Chapter 3.

Programming with
MATLAB

Prof. Kiho Park

Numerical Methods 1
M-Files
• MATLAB allows you to put commands in text files
called M-files.
– The files are stored with a .m extension
• There are two main kinds of M-file
– Script files
– Function files

Numerical Methods 2
M-Files: Script Files
• A script file is merely a set of MATLAB commands
that are saved on a file.
• Scripts can be executed either
– by typing their name in the command window, or
– by invoking the Debug, Run command in the edit
window.

Numerical Methods 3
M-Files: Script Files – Ex. 3.1
Edit g=9.81; m=68.1; cd=0.25; t=12;
scriptdemo.m
Window v=sqrt(g*m/cd)*tanh(sqrt(g*cd/m)*t)

>> scriptdemo
v=
50.6175

M-files should be run (or

called)
at the directory (current folder)
where M-files are saved.
Numerical Methods 4
M-Files: Function Files
• Function files can accept input arguments from and
return outputs to the command window
• Variables are created and manipulated within the
function.
function outvar = funcname(arglist)
% helpcomments
statements
outvar = value;

Numerical Methods 5
M-Files: Function Files – Ex 3.2

Edit function v = freefallvel(t, m, cd)

Window %freefallvel: bungee velocity with second-order drag
%v=freefallvel(t,m,cd) computes the free-fall velocity
% of an object with second-order drag
%input:
%t=time(s)
%m=mass(kg)
%cd=second order drag coefficient (kg/m)
%output:
%v=downward velocity (m/s)
g=9.81; %acceleration of gravity
v=sqrt(g*m/cd)*tanh(sqrt(g*cd/m)*t);

freefallvel.m

Numerical Methods 6
M-Files: Function Files – Ex 3.2

>> freefallvel(12, 68.1, 0.25)

ans =
50.6175

>> freefallvel(8, 100, 0.25)

ans =
53.1878

Numerical Methods 7
M-Files: Returning more than one results

Edit function [mean, stdev] = stats(x)

stats.m
Window n=length(x);
mean=sum(x)/n;
stdev=sqrt(sum((x-mean).^2/(n-1)));

>> y=[8 5 10 12 6 7.5 4];

>> [m,s] =stats (y)
m=
7.5000
S=
2.8137

Numerical Methods 8
M-Files: Subfunctions
• Functions can call other functions.
– Main or primary function: It is the only function that is
accessible to the command window and other functions
and scripts.
– A subfunction is only accessible to the main function and
subfunctions within the same M-file.

Numerical Methods 9
M-Files: Subfunctions
• example

function v= freefallsubfunc(t, m, cd)

v=vel(t, m, cd); Main function
end

function v=vel(t, m, cd)

g=9.81;
subfunction
v=sqrt(g*m/cd)*tanh(sqrt(g*cd/m)*t);
end

Numerical Methods 10
Input-Output
• input function
n = input('promptstring')
n = input('promptstring‘, ‘s’)

• disp function
disp (value)

Numerical Methods 11
Input-Output
• fprintf function
fprintf('format', x, …)

e.g.
>> fprintf(‘The velocity is %8.4f m/s \n’, velocity)

%d - integer format
%e - scientific format with lowercase e
%E - scientific format with uppercase E
%f - decimal format
%g - the more compact of %e or %f
\n - start a new line
\t – tab
Numerical Methods 12
Input-Output: Ex 3.3
Edit Window

function freefalli
>> freefalli
g=9.81; Mass (kg): 68.1
m=input('Mass(kg):'); Drag coefficient (kg/m): 0.25
cd=input('Drag Coefficient(kg/m):’);
Time (s): 12
t=input('Time(s):');
disp(' ')
disp('Velocity (m/s):') Velocity (m/s):
disp(sqrt(g*m/cd)*tanh(sqrt(g*cd/m)*t)) 50.6175
The velocity is -50.6175 m/s
v1= -sqrt(g*m/cd)* tanh(sqrt(g*cd/m)*t);
fprintf('The velocity is %8.4f m/s\n’, v1)

Numerical Methods 13
Structured Programming
• MATLAB includes statements allowing programs to
take non-sequential paths.
– Decisions (or Selection): The branching of flow based on a
decision
– Loops (or Repetition): The looping of flow to allow
statements to be repeated.

• The if structure
if condition
statements
end

Numerical Methods 14
Structured Programming: Decisions
function
Edit grader(grade)
Window if grade >= 60
disp('passing
grade:')
disp(grade)
end

>> grader(95.6)
passing grade:
95.6000

Numerical Methods 15
Structured Programming: Decisions
• Error function
Error (msg)

• Relational operators
Example Operator Relationship
x == 0 == Equal
unit ~= ~= Not equal
‘m’
a < 0 < Less than
s > t > Greater than
3.9 <= a/3 <= Less than or equal to
r >= 0 >= Greater than or equal to
Numerical Methods 16
Structured Programming: Decisions
• Logical conditions
~ (Not)
& (And)
| (Or)
• The order of priority
– Parentheses > mathematical expressions > relational
operators > logical operators (Not > And > Or)
– When all things are equal,
expressions are performed from left to right.

Numerical Methods 17
Structured Programming: Decisions

Numerical Methods 18
Structured Programming: Decisions
• The if…else structure
if condition
statements1
else
statements2
end

• The if…elseif structure

if condition1
statements1
elseif condition2
statements2
:
else
statementsN
end Numerical Methods 19
Structured Programming: Decisions
• Example 3.4. For a scalar, the built-in MATLAB sign function
returns the sign of its argument (−1, 0, 1). Develop an M-file
to perform the same function.

Edit Window

function sgn = mysign(x) >> mysign(25.6)

ans =
1
if x > 0
sgn = 1; >> mysign(-0.776)
elseif x < 0 ans =
sgn = -1; -1
else
sgn = 0; >> mysign(0)
ans =
end
0
Numerical Methods 20
Structured Programming: Decisions
• The switch structure
switch testexpression
case value1
statements1
case value2
statements2
:
otherwise
statementsN
end

Numerical Methods 21
Structured Programming: Loops
• The for…end structure
for index = start:step:finish
statements
end
• Example 3.5
function fout = factor(n)
>> factor(5)
x = 1; ans =
for i=1:n 120
x = x * i;
end
fout = x;
end

Numerical Methods 22
Structured Programming: Loops
• Vectorization

for structure Vectorization

i = 0; t = 0:0.02:50;
for t = 0:0.02:50 y = cos(t);
i = i + 1;
y(i) = cos(t);
end

Numerical Methods 23
Structured Programming: Loops
• The while structure
while condition
statements
end

• The while … break structure

while (1)
statements
if condition, break, end
statements
end
• The pause command

Numerical Methods 24
Structured Programming: Loops
• The while structure

>> x = 8
x=
>> 8 x=8
x>>= while x > 0
8 x = x - 3;
>> while disp(x)
x>0
end x = x - 3;
5disp(x)
2 end
-1

Numerical Methods 25
Structured Programming: Loops
• The while … break structure

>> x= 0.24
x=
0.2400
>> while(1)
x = x - 0.05
if x<0, break, end
end
x=
0.1900
x=
0.1400
x=
0.0900
x=
0.0400
x=
-0.0100
Numerical Methods 26
Nesting and Indentation
• Structures can be nested within other structures.

• Example 3.7 Nesting structures

2
f ( x) ax  bx  c
2
 b  b  4ac
x
2a
– Develop a function to implement this formula given values
of the coefficients.
Numerical Methods 27
Nesting & function quadroots(a, b, c)

Indentation
• Ex 3.7

end
Numerical Methods 28
Passing Functions to M-files
• Anonymous functions: simple functions without
creating an M-file.
fhandle = @(arg1, arg2, …) expression

>> outvar =feval('cos',pi/6)

>> fl = @(x,y) x^2 + y^2;
>> fl (3,4)
ans =
25

Numerical Methods 29
Passing Functions to M-files
• inline functions
f1 = inline('expression', 'arg1', 'arg2',…)

>> f1 =inline('x^2 + y^2', 'x', 'y')

f1 =
inline function:
f1(x,y) = x^2 + y^2
>> f1(3,4)
ans =
25

Numerical Methods 30
Passing Functions to M-files
• Function functions are functions that operate on
other functions which are passed to it as input
arguments.
– e.g. built-in function fplot fplot(func, lims)

>> vel= @(t)…

sqrt(9.81*68.1/0.25)*tanh(sqrt(9.81*0.25/68.1)*t);
>> fplot(vel, [0 12])

Numerical Methods 31
 Passing Functions to M-files
• Ex 3.7 Building and implementing a Function Function:
– Develop an M-file function function to determine the average value of
a function over a range. Illustrate its use for the bungee jumper
velocity over the range from t = 0 to 12 s:
gm  gm 
v(t )  tanh  t 
Cd  C d 
>> vel= @(t)…
sqrt(9.81*68.1/0.25)*tanh(sqrt(9.81*0.25/68.1)*t);
function favg = funcavg(f, a, b, n)
x = linspace(a,b,n); >> funcavg(vel, 0, 12, 60)
y=f(x); ans =
favg=mean(y);
36.0127
>> funcavg(@sin, 0, 2*pi, 180)
ans =
-6.3001e-017

Numerical Methods 32
Summary
• What we have learned…
– Creation of M-files in the edit window and its use from the
command window.
– Script and function files
– Sub-functions
– Structured programming
– if…elseif and switch structures
– for…end and while structures
– Passing function to M-files

Numerical Methods 33