Matlab Introduction

What is MATLAB?

• A high-performance language for technical computing
(Mathworks, 1998)
• Typical uses of MATLAB:
• Mathematical computations
• Algorithmic development
• Model prototyping (prior to complex model development)
• Data analysis and exploration of data (visualization)
• Scientific and engineering graphics for presentation
• Complex analysis using MATLAB toolboxes (i.e., statistics,
neural networks, fuzzy logic, H-infinity control, economics, etc.)

Why is MATLAB Good for Me?

• Because it simplifies the analysis of mathematical
models
• It frees you from coding in high-level languages (saves a
lot of time - with some computational speed penalties)
• Provides an extensible programming/visualization
environment
• Provides professional looking graphs
• The learning curve of this language is moderate (my own
bias)
• Our students learn the language in EF, Math and Physics.
 Perhaps we should exploit this fact in our junior and
senior courses


Basics of the Technical Language

• MATLAB is a technical language to ease scientific
computations
• The name is derived from MATrix LABoratory
• It provides many of the attributes of spreadsheets and
programming languages
• MATLAB is a case sensitive language (a variable named
“c” is different than another one called “C”)
• MATLAB can be used in interactive mode or in full
compiled version (platform specific mode)
• In interactive mode MATLAB scripts are platform
independent (good for cross platform portability)