MATLAB Primer
Second Edition
Kermit Sigmon
Department of Mathematics
University of Florida
Department of Mathematics = University of Florida = Gainesville, FL 32611
sigmon@math.ufl.edu = sigmon@ufpine.bitnet
Copyright © 1989, 1992 by Kermit Sigmon
Copyright © 1989, 1992 by Kermit Sigmon
The MATLAB Primer may be distributed as desired subject to the following conditions:
In particular, it may be distributed via a local copy center or bookstore. Users usually appreciate the convenience and durability of a bound copy with a cover, copy center style.
Department of Mathematics = University of Florida = Gainesville, FL 32611 sigmon@math.ufl.edu = sigmon@ufpine.bitnet
MATLAB is an interactive, matrix-based system for scientific and engineering calculations. You can solve complex numerical problems without actually writing a program. The name MATLAB is an abbreviation for MATrix LABoratory.
The purpose of this Primer is to help you begin to use MATLAB. They can best be used hands-on. You are encouraged to work at the computer as you read the Primer and freely experiment with examples.
You should liberally use the on-line help facility for more detailed information. After
entering MATLAB as described in section 1, the command help will display a list of
functions for which on-line help is available; the command help functionname will
give information about a specific function. The command help eig, for example, will
give information about the eigenvalue function eig. You can preview some of the
features of MATLAB by entering the command demo.
The scope and power of MATLAB go far beyond these notes. Eventually you will want to consult the MATLAB User's Guide and Reference Guide. The documentation which accompanies the Student Edition of MATLAB is an excellent source. Copies of the complete User's Guide are often available for review at locations such as consulting desks, terminal rooms, computing labs, and the reserve desk of the library. Consult your instructor or your local computing center to learn where the User's Guides are located at your institution.
MATLAB is available for a number of environments: Sun/Apollo/VAXstation/HP workstations, VAX, MicroVAX, Gould, PC and AT compatibles, 80386 and 80486 computers, Apple Macintosh, and several parallel machines. There is a relatively inexpensive Student Edition available from Prentice Hall publishers. The information in these notes applies generally to all of these environments.
While the second edition of the Primer is based on version 3.5 of MATLAB, it is compatible with version 4.0 with the fundamental differences noted. An edition of the Primer based on version 4.0 is under development.
The plain TeX source (and a PostScript file primer35.ps) of this second edition of the
MATLAB Primer is available via anonymous ftp from math.ufl.edu as the file
primer35.tex in the directory pub/matlab. If ftp is unavailable to you, it can be
obtained via listserv by sending an email message to listserv@math.ufl.edu
which contains the single line send matlab/primer35.tex. It can also be
obtained by sending a request to the author at sigmon@math.ufl.edu. The latest
edition of the Primer will always be available as indicated above as the file
primer.tex. A Spanish version is also available there.
MATLAB is licensed by The MathWorks, Inc., Cochituate Place, 24 Prime Park Way, Natick, MA 01760, (508)653-1415, Fax: (508)653-2997, Email: info@mathworks.com.
Copyright © 1989, 1992 by Kermit Sigmon (6-93)
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