Class 11: Introduction to MATLAB

Presentation
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Today’s Learning Objectives

Students will be introduced to:
1. Proper usage of basic MATLAB features.
2. The need to translate mathematical notation into
proper MATLAB syntax.
3. The basic structure of a for-end loop.
4. Advanced capabilities of MATLAB in various
engineering fields.
5. Clear expectations for MATLAB
assignments (COAM). 2
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Today’s Topics
1. Introduction to the MATLAB interface
2. Order of precedence
3. Variables
4. fprintf
5. Script files
6. Basic for loop
7. Modeling & simulation
8. COAM scenarios

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What is MATLAB?
• Stands for “MATrix LABoratory”
• Powerful programming language
• It’s used for computation, modeling,
visualization and much more

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How to open MATLAB

The following
CLICK on the prompt should
shortcut icon on
desktop appear in the
command window
after a lengthy
initialization
Start  process:
All programs 
MATLAB >>
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MATLAB Display
1. Ribbon: useful
operations 1
2. Current Directory:
list of files
3. Command Window:
main window, 4
contains command
prompt (>>) 2 3
4. Workspace: defined
variable values
5. Command History:
displays a list of 5
previously typed
commands
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MATLAB’s Working Directory

• Current working directory is where files are saved and run
from
• When you first start MATLAB, it is a good practice to change
the working directory to your S: drive or USB device using
the browse icon :

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Order of Precedence
• Higher-precedence operations are executed before lower-
precedence operations
• Two operations with same precedence are executed L 
R
Parentheses Multiplication Addition
(innermost
pair first)
> Exponentiation
> &
Division
> &
Subtracti
on
First Third Fourth

Second
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Order of Precedence
Example: Find the average of two numbers, 10 and 12

>> 10+12/2 >> (10+12)/2

ans = ans =

16 11

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Variables – Definition
• You can assign variables to an explicit value.
x = 5 % defining x and initializing it with a
value

• It creates a 1x1 matrix named x and stores the value 5 in

its element.
• Please note, the value of x can be replaced with a new
value based on its previously defined value:
x = x + 2 % this results in x = 7

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Variables – Naming
1. Cannot exceed 63 characters
2. Must begin with a letter
3. May contain letters, numbers and _
− NO spaces allowed
4. Case sensitive! (var1 is different from Var1)
5. Avoid naming variables with currently defined MATLAB
functions
− Such as: exp, sin, cos, sqrt, length, mean, max, min,
etc.
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Variables – Calculations
• Variables defined previously can be used to do calculations
Define: a = 5; b = 15;

>> a + b
ans =
20

>> a * b^2
ans =
1125
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fprintf ( ) – Basic Format

Allows more information in a single line
It can display 1 line of text:
fprintf(‘\nText and more text.’)

It can show text and variable output(s) on the same line:

fprintf(‘\nText and %value_display and text.’, variable)
fprintf(‘\nText %value_display1 and %value_display2.’,var1,var2)

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fprintf ( ) – Value
Display
Conversion
conversion
Start of
specification
(required)
% 3.2 f character
(required)
Field width Precision
(optional) (optional)
Example Code:
x = pi*(1/2)^2;
fprintf(‘\nThe area of this circle is %3.2f’,x)
Will display:

The area of this circle is 0.79 14

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Script Files – Overview

• Script files are:
− a collection of commands executed in sequence
− written in the MATLAB editor
− saved as MATLAB files (.m extension  m-file)

• Script files can be created from the command window by

typing:
>> edit NewNameofScript.m
• Or by clicking
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Script Files
Using a script file is convenient because it can be:
• Edited (corrected and/or changed)
• Executed many times with reliable results
• Saved, then opened at a later date
• Sent to others to use

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MATLAB Display + Editor Window

1. Ribbon 1
2. Current Directory
3. Command Window
4. Workspace
4
5. Command History 6

2
6. Editor Window:
the commands of
the script file are 5
typed out line- 3
by- line.
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Script Files – How to Save

Once the script file is completed, it must be saved:
• In our class, use Save As to your Z:\ or USB drive.
• This should be the same as the working directory you
specified when you started MATLAB
The name of the script file follows the rules for names of
variables in MATLAB:
• Can be up to 63 characters long.
• Must begin with a letter.
• Can only contain letters, digits, and _
• Case sensitive!
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Script Files – How to Run

• A script file can be executed from the Ribbon by clicking
on the Run icon (this saves the m-file before running)

• A script file can also be executed from the Command

Window by typing its name and pressing Enter.

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Loops – Overview
A loop allows a group of commands in a program to be
repeated.
• Each repetition of the loop is called a pass
• The loop terminates:
− After a fixed number of passes OR
− After some condition is satisfied

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for-end Loop –
Structure
Loop index
The value The increment of k
after each pass
of k in
variable the
first pass k=k+step
(used to control
the looping The stopping
process) for k = start:step:stop condition. The
........ loop continues
until
........ A group
MATLAB k+step > stop
........ of commands
end
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for-end Loop –
Example
for k = 1 : 1 : 5 The loop will repeat itself until the
k loop index variable, k, equals the
last value, 5, for a total of 5 passes.
end k equals 5 after the loop ends.

Pass 1 Pass 2 Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 5

k=1 k=2 k=3 k=4 k=5
(=1+1) (=2+1) (=3+1) (=4+1)

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Important Takeaways
Programming is a useful and powerful tool for problem
solving in any engineering discipline.
• MATLAB is a tool to solve these types of problems
• Basics of MATLAB interface
• Variable naming and rules
• fprintf
• Script files
• Basic for-end loop structure
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HW Assignments Due Sunday, September 30th

Before next class, make sure you have a full understanding of:
• MATLAB interface
• Calculations
• Variables
• How to create a basic for-end loop

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Looking Ahead
Class 14: Data Analysis and Input

You will learn about:

• Plotting
• Loading data into MATLAB
• The input() command

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