Matlab is a sophisticated software software package. It is widely used in industry. It is the quickest of the high-level math programs to learn, because it has the simplest syntax. It is an object-oriented programming language. The single object of Matlab is the matrix. (Matlab stands for MATrix LABoratory). It is a command-line interpreted language, although you can compile programs.

When you give the command matlab, the

>>

prompt will appear. You can then type Matlab commands.

To end a Matlab session, type

>> quit

Help. You can get help with any Matlab command by typing

>> help <name of command>

You should type at least

>> help arith

>> help *

>> help plot

>> help linspace

>> help slash

>> help relop

>> help help

If you want to know how to do something but don’t know the exact command name, you can:

>> lookfor <string>

For example:

>> lookfor exponential

Scripts and Functions

A MATLAB script file is a plain text file that contains MATLAB commands. When the name of the script file is given as a MATLAB command, the commands in the script file are executed one line at a time. Both scripts and functions are given the (.m) file extension.

Also:

>> help save

>> help load

Matrix computations

>> help rref

>> help rrefmovie

Differential Equations