MATLAB stands for “Matrix Laboratory” and is an interactive, matrix-based system and fourth-generation programming language from Mathworks Inc., which is mathematics software. Matlab helps to perform statistical analysis and gives the user complete freedom to implement specific algorithms and perform complex custom-tailored operations.
Matlab has a command-driven approach. Commands with appropriate arguments are written after the Matlab command prompt >>. The Matlab program provides the user with a convenient environment for performing many types of calculations. This introduction to Matlab will help users understand its importance and variety of applications in different scientific fields.
Matlab has three primary windows.
1) Command windows
2) Graphics Windows
3) Edit Windows used to write M-Files
The common way to operate Matlab is to enter commands in the command window.
Matlab as a Calculator
>> 55 – 16
ans = 39
>> ans + 11
ans =50
Matlab assigns the results ans whenever you do not explicitly assign the calculations to a chosen variable.
>> a = 4 % assigns a scalar quantity to a
>> a % Prints the scalar quantity in command windows
>> a = 4 % suppressed echo printing
>> a =4; A=6; x=1; % multiple variable definition
Note: Matlab treats names as Case-Sensitive.
>> format long
>> pi
>> format short
>> pi
