MATLAB® fundamentals

This chapter provides an overview of the fundamentals of MATLAB. The tools introduced are sufficient to begin solving numerous scientific and engineering problems that you may encounter in your technical-computing work. The concepts of variables, operators, and expressions are introduced. The name MATLAB stands for Matrix Laboratory because MATLAB has been designed to work with matrices and arrays of numbers (vectors and matrices). The creating and naming of variables (single numbers, vectors, or matrices) are described. The basic notions of input, operations on input to produce output, and output are discussed. Two useful programming tools are described; they are repetition and decision utilities. Examples of the development and execution of relatively simple programs applying the notion of a structure plan are provided. One example is the vertical motion of an object under the influence of gravity.