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Lecture 1: Introduction: Essential MATLAB

This lecture introduces MATLAB by discussing its basic features and how to perform calculations. It demonstrates how to define variables, write programs, and save code as M-files. The key objectives are to learn the basics of MATLAB as a tool for technical computing and programming to solve engineering and science problems.

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John Taulo
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24 views

Lecture 1: Introduction: Essential MATLAB

This lecture introduces MATLAB by discussing its basic features and how to perform calculations. It demonstrates how to define variables, write programs, and save code as M-files. The key objectives are to learn the basics of MATLAB as a tool for technical computing and programming to solve engineering and science problems.

Uploaded by

John Taulo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture 1: Introduction

Lecture series based on the text:

Essential MATLAB
for Engineers and Scientists
By
Hahn & Valentine
-------------------------------------------------
Lectures by Daniel T. Valentine

© 2007 Daniel Valentine. All rights reserved. Published by


Elsevier.
Objectives of course
 Learn how to examine, explore and evaluate MATLAB.

 Learn how to do technical computing with MATLAB.

 Learn how to design programs to solve technical


problems via structure plan (i.e., a design methodology).

 Learn to formulate algorithms for the steps of the


structure plan.

 Learn how to translate the steps into computer programs


to solve engineering and scientific problems.
Objective of this lecture
 Provide an overview of some of the
features of MATLAB as a way to begin
your:
– Evaluation of this new technical computing
tool.
– Training in the art of computer programming.
– Learning to use MATLAB as a notepad for
mathematical computations that arise in
engineering and science courses.
MATLAB desktop
Command Window
Command History
Window
Workspace Window
Current Directory
Window
Start Button
Command Window
 The Command Window on the right is the main
panel where you interact with MATLAB.
 You key (or type) and <Enter> commands after
the prompt >>; MATLAB executes the
commands and displays results (if requested).
 Some commonly used tools and commands:
–  (up arrow) returns last command input, can be
repeated
– clc – clears the screen
– whos – shows list of variables
– clear – clears variables
Evaluation of MATLAB
 HANDS-ON with MATLAB
– Type
>> 2+3 <Enter>
into the Command Window
>> clc <Enter>
>> whos <Enter>
Throughout the lecture, yellow text indicates
what you should type into MATLAB.
Command History Window
 The Command History Window logs all of the
commands you enter in MATLAB.
 It should have logged 2+3.

Use the Command History Window to reenter


2+3 in the command window (use copy-and-
paste or double click on 2+3).
 This is useful to retrieve past commands.
 Use “Shift” key to select multiple lines.
Arithmetic with MATLAB
 Let us explore by doing exercises:
>> 3–2 <Enter>
>> 3*2 <Enter>
>> 3/2 <Enter>
>> 3\2 <Enter>
>> 3^2 <Enter>
>> 2/0 <Enter>
>> 0/2 <Enter>
>> 3*Inf <Enter>
Algebraic-numeric computations
 Let us explore by doing exercises:
>> a = 3 <Enter>
>> b = 2 <Enter>
>> a – b <Enter>
>> a / b <Enter>
>> a^2 <Enter>
>> c = a * b <Enter>
>> d = c^(b+1) <Enter>
>> who
Hiding Output
 Let us explore by doing exercises:
>> clear; clc <Enter>
>> whos <Enter>
>> a = 3; <Enter>
>> b = 2; <Enter>
>> c = a * b; <Enter>
>> d = c^(b+1); <Enter>
>> who <Enter>
>> % a, b, c, d are in workspace<Enter>
>> a, b, c, d <Enter>
Plot y versus x
 Introduction to plotting & displaying data:
>> clear; clc <Enter>
>> x = 0:0.1:1; <Enter>
>> y = x.^2; <Enter>
>> whos <Enter>
>> plot(x,y,x,y,’o’) <Enter>
>> disp(' '),disp('...... x ........ y .....'),disp([x‘ y']) <Enter>
>> x <Enter>
>> y <Enter>
>> % x and y are 1-by-11 arrays of numbers!
Write a Simple Program
 Consider computing the volume of a cone:
Volume = (pi.*r.^2.*h)./3
radius = 6 inches
height = 12 inches

 In the command window key in:


>> clear; clc <Enter>
>> r = 6 <Enter>
>> h = 12 <Enter>
>> v = (pi.*r.^2.*h)./3 <Enter>
>> whos <Enter>
Editor & M-Files
 An M-file in MATLAB is analogous to a txt-
file in Microsoft Notepad.
 An M-file is created in MATLAB text editor.
 M-files:
– You can save your programs (i.e., list of
executable commands) as M-files.
– You can reopen and modify your program.
– They are useful for “debugging” (correcting
errors) as you develop your programs (your
technical computing tools).
Comments in programs
 Every time you write a program to be saved, it is
helpful for you to comment (i.e., describe) it well.
 To insert a comment on a line in the editor or in
the Command Window, use the comment
operator %, then type your comment.
 MATLAB:
– will not run lines that begin with the comment operator
(in the editor comments appear in green).
 Comments
– Comments allow you (and others) to more easily
understand your program.
– When your lines of code are easy to understand, your
code will be easier to use later.
Art of well-written code
 A well-written program is like literature; it
contains comments explaining:
– what your program requires as input.
– what the variables in the program represent.
– what your program computes and displays.
 It is useful for you to add a set of header
comments that include the name of the
program, your name (as the programmer),
and the date the program was created or
modified.
Saving code in an M-File
 Open the editor by:
– Entering the command edit in the command window.
– Or click the white-sheet-of-paper icon in the upper left
hand corner directly below file.
 Now enter the lines of code to find the volume of a cone:
rr = 4
h = 12
v = (pi.*r.^2.*h)./3
REMARK: If you save it, add header comments and comments
explaining what the program does.
 After you have typed in the code, save it as cone.m.
This is cone.m in the editor

%
% Tool to compute the volume of a cone.
% A simple sample for a first lecture.
% B.H.& Daniel........... January 2007
%
rr = 4; % radius of the cone
h = 12; % height of the cone
v = (pi.*r.^2.*h)./3 % Volume of the cone
Execute an M-file as a Command
 Now execute (or run) the program by pushing
F5, or by typing on the command line
>> cone <Enter>
– or by clicking the run button. (Note that the run button looks
like a page with a down arrow to its left. It can be found below help on
the toolbar of the edit window.)
 If you entered the code as written on the
previous slide you will get an error!
 What went wrong?
 Repair your program (Change rr = 4 to r = 4.), save it,
and run it again.
 Now change the height to 24, save and run your
program again.
Summary
 MATLAB can be used like a hand calculator to
do arithmetic.
 You can define (or assign) variables with
numbers and expressions to do calculations as
illustrated by the volume-of-cone example.
 The advantage of saving programs as M-files is
that you open it, make changes and/or execute it
again without having to type it all over again.
 This concludes our overview of MATLAB and a
taste of things to come!

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