Telemark University College

Department of Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Cybernetics

Introduction to MATLAB
HANS-PETTER HALVORSEN, 2011.06.06

Faculty of Technology, Postboks 203, Kjlnes ring 56, N-3901 Porsgrunn, Norway. Tel: +47 35 57 50 00 Fax: +47 35 57 54 01

Preface
MATLAB is a tool for technical computing, computation and visualization in an integrated
environment. This document explains the basic concepts in MATLAB.
MATLAB is an abbreviation for MATrix LABoratory, so it is well suited for matrix manipulation and
problem solving related to Linear Algebra.
MATLAB offers lots of additional Toolboxes for different areas such as Control Design, Image
Processing, Digital Signal Processing, etc.

For more information about MATLAB, see my Blog: http://home.hit.no/~hansha

Table of Contents
Preface..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................iii
1

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1

Start using MATLAB ........................................................................................................................ 4

2.1

Command Window .......................................................................................................... 4

2.1.2

Command History ............................................................................................................ 5

Workspace ....................................................................................................................... 6

2.2.2

Current Directory............................................................................................................. 7

Useful commands .................................................................................................................... 8

Matrices and Vectors ...................................................................................................................... 9

3.1

Variables .................................................................................................................................. 5

2.2.1

2.3

The MATLAB Environment ...................................................................................................... 4

2.1.1

2.2

Help ......................................................................................................................................... 2

Useful commands .................................................................................................................. 11

Scripts and functions M Files ..................................................................................................... 12

4.1

Scripts .................................................................................................................................... 12

4.2

Functions ............................................................................................................................... 13

Flow Control.................................................................................................................................. 15
5.1

If-else Statement ................................................................................................................... 15

5.2

Switch and Case Statement ................................................................................................... 15

5.3

For loop ................................................................................................................................. 16

5.4

While loop ............................................................................................................................. 16

Plotting.......................................................................................................................................... 17
iii

iv

Table of Contents

Linear Algebra ............................................................................................................................... 19

7.1

Vectors................................................................................................................................... 19

7.2

Matrices ................................................................................................................................. 20

7.2.1

Transpose ...................................................................................................................... 20

7.2.2

Diagonal ......................................................................................................................... 20

7.2.3

Triangular....................................................................................................................... 21

7.2.4

Matrix Multiplication ..................................................................................................... 21

7.2.5

Matrix Addition.............................................................................................................. 22

7.2.6

Determinant .................................................................................................................. 22

7.2.7

Inverse Matrices ............................................................................................................ 23

7.3

Eigenvalues ............................................................................................................................ 24

7.4

Solving Linear Equations........................................................................................................ 24

7.5

LU factorization ..................................................................................................................... 26

7.6

The Singular Value Decomposition (SVD).............................................................................. 27

7.7

Commands............................................................................................................................. 27

Toolboxes...................................................................................................................................... 28

Whats Next? ................................................................................................................................. 29

Quick Reference .................................................................................................................................... 31

9.1

General .................................................................................................................................. 31

9.2

Matrices ................................................................................................................................. 31

9.3

Linear Algebra........................................................................................................................ 31

1 Introduction
MATLAB is a tool for technical computing, computation and visualization in an integrated
environment, e.g.,

Math and computation

Algorithm development
Data acquisition
Modeling, simulation, and prototyping
Data analysis, exploration, and visualization
Scientific and engineering graphics
Application development, including graphical user interface building

MATLAB is developed by The MathWorks. MATLAB is a short-term for MATrix LABoratory. MATLAB is
in use world-wide by researchers and universities.
For more information, see www.mathworks.com
Below we see the MATLAB Environment:

MATLAB has the following windows:

Command Window
Command History
1

Introduction

Workspace
Current Directory

The Command window is the main window. Use the Command Window to enter variables and to run
functions and M-files scripts (more about m-files later).
Watch the following Getting Started with MATLAB video:
http://www.mathworks.com/demos/matlab/getting-started-with-matlab-video-tutorial.html

1.1 Help
MATLAB has a comprehensive Help system.

You may also type help in your command window

>>help

Or more specific, e.g.,

>>help plot

I advise you to test all the examples in this text in MATLAB in order to get familiar with the program
and its syntax. All examples in the text are outlined in a frame like this:
Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

Introduction

>>

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

2 Start using MATLAB

This chapter explains the basic concepts in MATLAB.
The topics are as follows:

The MATLAB Environment

o Command Window
o Command History
o Workspace
o Current Directory
Variables

2.1 The MATLAB Environment

2.1.1

Command Window

The Command window is the main window. Use the Command Window to enter variables and to run
functions and M-files scripts (more about m-files later).

You type all your commands after the command Prompt >>, e.g., defining the following matrix
[
4

Start using MATLAB

The MATLAB syntax is as follows:

>> A = [1 2;0 3]

Or
>> A = [1,2;0,3]

If you, for an example, want to find the answer to

>>a=4
>>b=3
>>a+b

MATLAB then responds:

ans =
7

2.1.2

Command History

Statements you enter in the Command Window are logged in the Command History. From the
Command History, you can view and search for previously run statements, as well as copy and
execute selected statements. You can also create an M-file from selected statements.

2.2 Variables
Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

Start using MATLAB

Variables are defined with the assignment operator, =. MATLAB is dynamically typed, meaning that
variables can be assigned without declaring their type, and that their type can change. Values can
come from constants, from computation involving values of other variables, or from the output of a
function. For example:
>> x = 17
x =
17
>> x = 'hat'
x =
hat
>> x = [3*4, pi/2]
x =
12.0000
1.5708
>> y = 3*sin(x)
y =
-1.6097
3.0000

Unlike many other languages, where the semicolon is used to terminate commands, in MATLAB the
semicolon serves to suppress the output of the line that it concludes.
>> a=5
a =
5
>> a=6;
>>

As you see, when you type a semicolon (;) after the command, MATLAB will not respond.

2.2.1

Workspace

The Workspace window list all your variables used as long you have MATLAB opened.

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

Start using MATLAB

You could also use the following command

>>who

This command list all the commands used

or
>>whos

This command lists all the command with the current values, dimensions, etc.
The command clear, will clear all the variables.
>>clear

2.2.2

Current Directory

The Current Directory window list al m files, etc.

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

Start using MATLAB

2.3 Useful commands

Here are some useful commands:
Command

Description

help

Help

help x

Gives you help on subject x

who, whos

Get list of variables

clear

Clears all variables in the Workspace

clear x

Clears the variable x

what

List all m files in the Working Folder

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

3 Matrices and Vectors

This chapter explains the basic concepts of using vectors and matrices in MATLAB.
Topics:

Matrices and Vectors syntax

Matrices functions

MATLAB is a "Matrix Laboratory", and as such it provides many convenient ways for creating vectors,
matrices, and multi-dimensional arrays. In the MATLAB, a vector refers to a one dimensional (1N or
N1) matrix, commonly referred to as an array in other programming languages. A matrix generally
refers to a 2-dimensional array, i.e. an mn array where m and n are greater than or equal to 1.
Arrays with more than two dimensions are referred to as multidimensional arrays.
MATLAB provides a simple way to define simple arrays using the syntax:
init:increment:terminator. For instance:
>> array = 1:2:9
array =
1 3 5 7 9

defines a variable named array (or assigns a new value to an existing variable with the name array)
which is an array consisting of the values 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. That is, the array starts at 1 (the init value),
increments with each step from the previous value by 2 (the increment value), and stops once it
reaches (or to avoid exceeding) 9 (the terminator value).
The increment value can actually be left out of this syntax (along with one of the colons), to use a
default value of 1.
>> ari = 1:5
ari =
1 2 3 4 5

assigns to the variable named ari an array with the values 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, since the default value of 1
is used as the incrementer.
Note that the indexing is one-based, which is the usual convention for matrices in mathematics. This
is atypical for programming languages, whose arrays more often start with zero.
Matrices can be defined by separating the elements of a row with blank space or comma and using a
semicolon to terminate each row. The list of elements should be surrounded by square brackets: [].
Parentheses: () are used to access elements and subarrays (they are also used to denote a function
argument list).

10

Matrices and Vectors

>> A = [16 3 2 13; 5 10 11 8; 9 6 7 12; 4 15 14 1]

A =
16 3 2 13
5 10 11 8
9 6 7 12
4 15 14 1
>> A(2,3)
ans =
11

Sets of indices can be specified by expressions such as "2:4", which evaluates to [2, 3, 4]. For
example, a submatrix taken from rows 2 through 4 and columns 3 through 4 can be written as:
>> A(2:4,3:4)
ans =
11 8
7 12
14 1

A square identity matrix of size n can be generated using the function eye, and matrices of any size
with zeros or ones can be generated with the functions zeros and ones, respectively.
>> eye(3)
ans =
1 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 1
>> zeros(2,3)
ans =
0 0 0
0 0 0
>> ones(2,3)
ans =
1 1 1
1 1 1

Most MATLAB functions can accept matrices and will apply themselves to each element. For
example, mod(2*J,n) will multiply every element in "J" by 2, and then reduce each element modulo
"n". MATLAB does include standard "for" and "while" loops, but using MATLAB's vectorized notation
often produces code that is easier to read and faster to execute. This code, excerpted from the
function magic.m, creates a magic square M for odd values of n (the built-in MATLAB function
meshgrid is used here to generate square matrices I and J containing 1:n).
[J,I] = meshgrid(1:n);
A = mod(I+J-(n+3)/2,n);
B = mod(I+2*J-2,n);
M = n*A + B + 1;

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

11

Matrices and Vectors

3.1 Useful commands

Here are some useful commands:
Command

Description

eye(x), eye(x,y)

Identity matrix of order x

ones(x), ones(x,y)

A matrix with only ones

zeros(x), zeros(x,y)

A matrix with only zeros

diag([x y z])

Diagonal matrix

size(A)

Dimension of matrix A

Inverse of matrix A

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

4 Scripts and functions M

Files
M-files are text files containing MATLAB code. Use the MATLAB Editor or another text editor to
create a file containing the same statements you would type at the MATLAB command line. Save the
file under a name that ends in .m.

4.1 Scripts
Create a new m-file from the File New menu or the New button on the Toolbar.

The built-in Editor for creating and modifying m-files:

12

13

Scripts and functions M Files

Running a m-file in the Command window:

4.2 Functions
You may create your own functions and save them as a m-file.
Example:
Create a function called linsolution which solve
Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

14

Scripts and functions M Files

Below we see how the m-file for this function looks like:

You may define A and b in the Command window and the use the function on order to find x:
>> A=[1 2;3 4];
>> b=[5;6];
>> x = linsolution(A,b)
x =
-4.0000
4.5000

After the function declaration (function [x] = linsolution(A,b)) in the m.file, you may
write a description of the function. This is done with the Comment sign % before each line.
From the Command window you can then type help <function name> in order to read this
information:
>> help linsolution
Solves the problem Ax=b using x=inv(A)*b
Created By Hans-Petter Halvorsen

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

5 Flow Control
This chapter explains the basic concepts of flow control in MATLAB.
The topics are as follows:

If-else statement
Switch and case statement
For loop
While loop

5.1 If-else Statement

The if statement evaluates a logical expression and executes a group of statements when the
expression is true. The optional elseif and else keywords provide for the execution of alternate
groups of statements. An end keyword, which matches the if, terminates the last group of
statements. The groups of statements are delineated by the four keywordsno braces or brackets
are involved.
Example:
n=5
if n > 2
M = eye(n)
elseif n < 2
M = zeros(n)
else
M = ones(n)
end

5.2 Switch and Case Statement

The switch statement executes groups of statements based on the value of a variable or expression.
The keywords case and otherwise delineate the groups. Only the first matching case is executed.
There must always be an end to match the switch.
Example:
n=2
switch(n)
case 1

15

16

Flow Control
M = eye(n)
case 2
M = zeros(n)
case 3
M = ones(n)

end

5.3 For loop

The for loop repeats a group of statements a fixed, predetermined number of times. A matching end
delineates the statements.
Example:
m=5
for n = 1:m
r(n) = rank(magic(n));
end
r

5.4 While loop

The while loop repeats a group of statements an indefinite number of times under control of a logical
condition. A matching end delineates the statements.
Example:
m=5;
while m > 1
m = m - 1;
zeros(m)
end

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

6 Plotting
This chapter explains the basic concepts of creating plots in MATLAB.
Topics:

Basic Plot commands

Function plot can be used to produce a graph from two vectors x and y. The code:
x = 0:pi/100:2*pi;
y = sin(x);
plot(x,y)

produces the following figure of the sine function:

Three-dimensional graphics can be produced using the functions surf, plot3 or mesh.
[X,Y] = meshgrid(-10:0.25:10,-10:0.25:10);
f = sinc(sqrt((X/pi).^2+(Y/pi).^2));
mesh(X,Y,f);
axis([-10 10 -10 10 -0.3 1])
xlabel('{\bfx}')
ylabel('{\bfy}')
zlabel('{\bfsinc} ({\bfR})')
hidden off

17

18

Plotting

This code produces the following 3D plot:

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

7 Linear Algebra
Linear algebra is a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of matrices, vectors, vector
spaces (also called linear spaces), linear maps (also called linear transformations), and systems of
linear equations.
MATLAB are well suited for Linear Algebra.

7.1 Vectors
Given a vector x

Example:
[ ]
>> x=[1; 2; 3]
x =
1
2
3

The Transpose of vector x:

[

>> x'
ans =
1

The Length of vector x:

Orthogonality:

19

20

Linear Algebra

7.2 Matrices
Given a matrix A:
[

Example:
[

>> A=[0 1;-2 -3]

A =
0
1
-2
-3

7.2.1

Transpose

The Transpose of matrix A:

[

Example:
[

>> A'
ans =
0
1

7.2.2

-2
-3

Diagonal

The Diagonal elements of matrix A is the vector

Example:

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

21

Linear Algebra

>> diag(A)
ans =
0
-3

The Diagonal matrix is given by:

Given the Identity matrix I:

Example:
>> eye(3)
ans =
1
0
0

7.2.3

0
1
0

0
0
1

Triangular

Lower Triangular matrix L:

[

Upper Triangular matrix U:

7.2.4

Matrix Multiplication

Given the matrices

and

, then

where

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

22

Linear Algebra

Example:
>> A=[0 1;-2 -3]
A =
0
1
-2
-3
>> B=[1 0;3 -2]
B =
1
0
3
-2
>> A*B
ans =
3
-2
-11
6

Note!

7.2.5

Matrix Addition

Given the matrices

and

, then

Example:
>> A=[0 1;-2 -3]
>> B=[1 0;3 -2]
>> A+B
ans =
1
1
1
-5

7.2.6
Given a matrix

Determinant
, then the Determinant is given:

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

23

Linear Algebra
| |

Given a 2x2 matrix

[

Then
| |

Example:
A =
0
1
-2
-3
>> det(A)
ans =
2

Notice that

and

Example:
>> det(A*B)
ans =
-4
>> det(A)*det(B)
ans =
-4
>> det(A')
ans =
2
>> det(A)
ans =
2

7.2.7

Inverse Matrices

The inverse of a quadratic matrix

is defined by:

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

24

Linear Algebra

if

For a 2x2 matrix we have:

[
The inverse

is given by
[

Example:
A =
0
1
-2
-3
>> inv(A)
ans =
-1.5000
-0.5000
1.0000
0

Notice that:

Prove this in MATLAB

7.3 Eigenvalues
Given

, then the Eigenvalues is defined as:

Example:
A =
0
1
-2
-3
>> eig(A)
ans =
-1
-2

7.4 Solving Linear Equations

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

25

Linear Algebra

Given the linear equation

with the solution:

(Assuming that the inverse of A exists)

Example:
The equations

may be written

][ ]

[ ]

where
[

]
[ ]
[ ]

The solution is:

A =
1
2
3
4
>> b=[5;6]
b =
5
6
>> x=inv(A)*b
x =
-4.0000
4.5000

In MATLAB you could also write x=A\b, which should give the same answer. This syntax can also be
used when the inverse of A dont exists.
Example:

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

26

Linear Algebra

>> A=[1 2;3 4;7 8]

>> x=inv(A)*b
??? Error using ==> inv
Matrix must be square.
>> x=A\b
x =
-3.5000
4.1786

7.5 LU factorization
LU factorization of

is given by

where
L is a lower triangular matrix
U is a upper triangular matrix
The MATLAB syntax is [L,U]=lu(A)
Example:
>> A=[1 2;3 4]
>> [L,U]=lu(A)
L =
0.3333
1.0000
1.0000
0
U =
3.0000
4.0000
0
0.6667

Or sometimes LU factorization of

is given by

where
D is a diagonal matrix
The MATLAB syntax is [L,U,P]=lu(A)
Example:
>> A=[1 2;3 4]
A =
1
2
3
4
>> [L,U,P]=lu(A)
L =

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

27

Linear Algebra
1.0000
0.3333

0
1.0000

3.0000
0

4.0000
0.6667

U =
P =
0
1

1
0

7.6 The Singular Value Decomposition

(SVD)
The Singular value Decomposition (SVD) of the matrix

is given by

where
U is a orthogonal matrix
V is a orthogonal matrix
S is a diagonal singular matrix
Example:
>> A=[1 2;3 4];
>> [U,S,V] = svd(A)
U =
-0.4046
-0.9145
-0.9145
0.4046
S =
5.4650
0
0
0.3660
V =
-0.5760
0.8174
-0.8174
-0.5760

7.7 Commands
Command
[L,U]=lu(A)

Description
LU Factorization

[L,U,P]=lu(A)
[U,S,V] = svd(A)

Singular Value Decomposition (SVD )

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

8 Toolboxes
Toolboxes are specialized collections of M-files built for solving particular classes of problems, e.g.,

Control System Toolbox

Signal Processing Toolbox
Statistics Toolbox
System identification Toolbox
etc.

28

9 Whats Next?
There are lots of useful resources to dig into if you want to learn more about MATLAB.
Type demo in the Command window in MATLAB
>>demo

In the Getting Stated with Demos in the MATLA Help system you get access to tons of Demos in
form of M-files, Videos, etc.

For more information about MATLAB, see www.mathworks.com

At the MathWorks home page there are lots of Documentation, Examples, Videos, Tips and Tricks,
etc.
Another resource is the MATLAB documentation (may be downloaded as pdf files from
www.mathworks.com), such as:

MATLAB Desktop Tools and Development Environment

MATLAB Getting Started Guide
MATLAB Function Reference
MATLAB Mathematics
29

30

Linear Algebra

MATLAB Graphics
Etc.

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

Quick Reference
9.1 General
Command

Description

help

Help

help x

Gives you help on subject x

who, whos

Get list of variables

clear

Clears all variables in the Workspace

clear x

Clears the variable x

what

List all m files in the Working Folder

9.2 Matrices
Command

Description

eye(x), eye(x,y)

Identity matrix of order x

ones(x), ones(x,y)

A matrix with only ones

zeros(x), zeros(x,y)

A matrix with only zeros

diag([x y z])

Diagonal matrix

size(A)

Dimension of matrix A

Inverse of matrix A

9.3 Linear Algebra

Command
[L,U]=lu(A)

Description
LU Factorization

31

Quick Reference
[L,U,P]=lu(A)
[U,S,V] = svd(A)

Singular Value Decomposition (SVD )

Tutorial: Introduction to MATLAB

Telemark University College

Faculty of Technology
Kjlnes Ring 56
N-3914 Porsgrunn, Norway
www.hit.no

Hans-Petter Halvorsen, M.Sc.

Telemark University College
Department of Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Cybernetics

Phone: +47 3557 5158

E-mail: hans.p.halvorsen@hit.no
Blog: http://home.hit.no/~hansha/
Room: B-237a