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MATLAB - Matrix
A matrix is a two-dimensional array of numbers.

In MATLAB, you create a matrix by entering elements in each row as comma or space delimited
numbers and using semicolons to mark the end of each row.

For example, let us create a 4-by-5 matrix a −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8]
Live Demo

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −

a=
1 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6 7
4 5 6 7 8

Referencing the Elements of a Matrix

To reference an element in the mth row and nth column, of a matrix mx, we write −

mx(m, n);

For example, to refer to the element in the 2nd row and 5th column, of the matrix a, as created in the
last section, we type −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
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a(2,5)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −

ans = 6 x
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Let us create a column vector v, from the elements of the 4th row of the matrix a −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
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v = a(:,4)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −

v=
4
5
6
7

You can also select the elements in the mth through nth columns, for this we write −

a(:,m:n)

Let us create a smaller matrix taking the elements from the second and third columns −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
Live Demo
a(:, 2:3)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −

ans =
2 3
3 4
4 5
5 6

In the same way, you can create a sub-matrix taking a sub-part of a matrix.

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
x
Live Demo
a(:, 2:3)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −
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ans =
2 3
3 4
4 5
5 6

In the same way, you can create a sub-matrix taking a sub-part of a matrix.

For example, let us create a sub-matrix sa taking the inner subpart of a −

3 4 5
4 5 6

To do this, write −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
Live Demo
sa = a(2:3,2:4)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −

sa =
3 4 5
4 5 6

Deleting a Row or a Column in a Matrix

You can delete an entire row or column of a matrix by assigning an empty set of square braces [] to that
row or column. Basically, [] denotes an empty array.

For example, let us delete the fourth row of a −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
Live Demo
a( 4 , : ) = []

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result − x

a=
1 2 3 4 5
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2 3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6 7

Next, let us delete the fifth column of a −

a = [ 1 2 3 4 5; 2 3 4 5 6; 3 4 5 6 7; 4 5 6 7 8];
Live Demo
a(: , 5)=[]

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −

a=
1 2 3 4
2 3 4 5
3 4 5 6
4 5 6 7

Example
In this example, let us create a 3-by-3 matrix m, then we will copy the second and third rows of this
matrix twice to create a 4-by-3 matrix.

Create a script file with the following code −

a = [ 1 2 3 ; 4 5 6; 7 8 9];
Live Demo
new_mat = a([2,3,2,3],:)

When you run the file, it displays the following result −

new_mat =
4 5 6
7 8 9
4 5 6
7 8 9

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Matrix Operations
In this section, let us discuss the following basic and commonly used matrix operations −
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Addition and Subtraction of Matrices

Division of Matrices

Scalar Operations of Matrices

Transpose of a Matrix
Concatenating Matrices

Matrix Multiplication
Determinant of a Matrix

Inverse of a Matrix