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MATLAB Guide

This document is a guide for using MATLAB in numerical methods, aimed at engineers. It covers launching MATLAB, basic commands, writing scripts and functions, plotting, debugging, and implementing numerical methods like the Bisection Method, Fixed-Point Iteration, and Newton-Raphson Method. Additionally, it includes practice exercises to reinforce learning and application of MATLAB features.

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moussaharb298
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6 views8 pages

MATLAB Guide

This document is a guide for using MATLAB in numerical methods, aimed at engineers. It covers launching MATLAB, basic commands, writing scripts and functions, plotting, debugging, and implementing numerical methods like the Bisection Method, Fixed-Point Iteration, and Newton-Raphson Method. Additionally, it includes practice exercises to reinforce learning and application of MATLAB features.

Uploaded by

moussaharb298
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MATLAB Guide for Numerical Methods

Numerical Methods for Engineers (ENG-308)


February 16, 2025

1 Introduction
MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory) is a powerful programming language widely used
in engineering, mathematics, and numerical computing. This guide will help you
quickly start using MATLAB for numerical methods.

2 Getting Started with MATLAB


2.1 Launching MATLAB
To start MATLAB, open the application and navigate to the Command Win-
dow. You can execute commands directly or create scripts using the Editor.

2.2 MATLAB online


If MATLAB is not installed on your computer, you can use MATLAB Online,
a cloud-based version accessible through a web browser. Simply visit MATLAB
Online and sign in with a MathWorks account. This allows you to run scripts,
perform computations, and access MATLAB features without requiring local
installation, making it a convenient freeware option.

2.2.1 How to use MATLAB online?


Step 1: Create a MathWorks Account
• Go to https://www.mathworks.com/login
• Click ”Create Account” and sign up using your email.
• Verify your email and log in.

Step 2: To use MATLAB online


• Open the link: https://matlab.mathworks.com
• Login to your Mathworks account and start using MATLAB.

1
2.3 Getting started
The MATLAB interface consists of:
• Command Window: Directly execute commands.

• Editor: Write and save scripts (“.m“ files).


• Workspace: View stored variables.
• Figure Window: Displays plots and visualizations.

2.4 Helpful Commands to Start


• Run the demo program: demo
• Get help on a command: help <command>
• Search for related commands: lookfor <keyword>

2.5 Basic Commands


The command window is used to perform calculations, such as:
1 >> a = 5 + 3 ; % Addition
2 >> b = s q r t ( 1 6 ) ; % Square r o o t
3 >> c = s i n ( p i / 4 ) ; % T r i g o n o m e t r i c f u n c t i o n
The following commands may be used to clear command window/variables:
>> clc to clear the command window.
>> clear to remove variables.

3 Scripts and Functions


3.1 Writing a function on the command line
You may define a function in the command line in the following way: ” =@(x)
”, for example, to define h(x) = x2 + 1 we can write:
1 >>h=@( x ) x ˆ2+1;
and use it for example as:
1 >>h ( 2 )

2
3.2 Defining a Function as a script
Functions in MATLAB are defined using the function keyword. Create a script
in the Editor and save it as myFunction.m:
1 function y = myFunction ( x )
2 y = x ˆ2 + 2∗ x + 1 ;
3 end
Call it in the command window:
1 >> r e s u l t = myFunction ( 3 ) ;
2 >> d i s p ( r e s u l t ) ;

4 Plotting and Visualization


MATLAB provides powerful plotting tools. Example:
1 x = 0 : 0 . 1 : 2 ∗ pi ;
2 y = sin (x );
3 plot (x , y ) ;
4 t i t l e ( ’ S i n e Wave ’ ) ;
5 xlabel ( ’x ’ ); ylabel ( ’ sin (x) ’ );
or more general:
1 x = 0:0.1:10;
2 y1 = s i n ( x ) ;
3 y2 = c o s ( x ) ;
4 p l o t ( x , y1 , ’ r ’ )
5 h o l d on
6 p l o t ( x , y2 , ’ b−− ’ ) ;
7 legend ( ’ sin (x) ’ , ’ cos (x) ’ ) ;
8 x l a b e l ( ’ x ’ ) ; y l a b e l ( ’ Function v a l u e s ’ ) ;
9 t i t l e ( ’ S i n e and C o s i n e F u n c t i o n s ’ ) ;
10 g r i d on ;
In fact, MATLAB has several built-in functions such as:
exp(x), cos(x), sqrt(x), log(x)

5 Debugging in MATLAB
To debug:
• Use dbstop if error to pause at errors.
• Add breakpoints in the Editor.
• Step through code using the Debug toolbar.

3
6 Number Precision and Formatting
MATLAB operates in double precision by default. Formatting options:
• Default: format short
• Full precision: format long
• Scientific notation: format short e or format long e

7 Arrays in MATLAB
MATLAB works efficiently with arrays. Example: plotting sin(x) and cos(x)
over 0 ≤ x ≤ 10:
1 t = 0:0.1:10;
2 x = cos ( t ) ; y = sin ( t ) ;
3 plot ( t , x , t , y ) ;

7.1 Vectors/arrays
A row vector is created using:
1 >> R = 1 : 5
which results in:  
R= 12345
It is transformed to a vertical array (column) using the transpose operation:
1 >> V = n ’
which results in:  
1
2
 
3
V = 
4
5

7.2 Matrix Creation


A matrix is input as:
1 A = [1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 9 ] ;
which produces:  
1 2 3
A = 4 5 6
7 8 9

4
8 Array Operations
• Addition: C = A + B
• Scalar multiplication: D = 2 ∗ A
• Matrix multiplication: G = E ∗ F

Component-wise operations use a dot (.):


1 a .∗ b % Element−w i s e m u l t i p l i c a t i o n
2 a ./ b % Element−w i s e d i v i s i o n
3 a .ˆ 3 % Element−w i s e e x p o n e n t i a t i o n

9 Special Arrays
MATLAB provides built-in functions for generating special matrices:
1 zeros ( 2 , 3 ) % 2 x3 z e r o m a t r i x
2 ones ( 2 , 3 ) % 2 x3 m a t r i x f i l l e d w i t h ones
3 eye ( 3 ) % 3 x3 i d e n t i t y m a t r i x

10 Array Functions
MATLAB has functions that operate on arrays:
• max(x) - Maximum element of x
• min(x) - Minimum element of x

• abs(x) - Absolute values


• sum(x) - Sum of elements
• norm(x) - Euclidean norm

5
11 Numerical Methods in MATLAB
11.1 Bisection Method
Finding the root of f (x) = 0 by iteratively dividing an interval in half.

Listing 1: Bisection Method Implementation


1 function r o o t = b i s e c t i o n ( f , a , b , t o l )
2 i f f (a) ∗ f (b) > 0
3 e r r o r ( ’No s i g n change d e t e c t e d . B i s e c t i o n method r e q u i r e s a r o o t . . .
4 in the i n t e r v a l . ’ ) ;
5 end
6 while ( b − a ) / 2 > t o l
7 c = (a + b) / 2;
8 i f f ( c ) == 0
9 break ;
10 elseif f (a) ∗ f (c) < 0
11 b = c;
12 else
13 a = c;
14 end
15 end
16 root = (a + b) / 2;
17 end

11.2 Fixed-Point Iteration


Fixed-point iteration to solve x = g(x) using:

xn+1 = g(xn )

Listing 2: Fixed-Point Iteration Implementation


1 function r o o t = f i x e d p o i n t ( g , x0 , t o l , m a x i t e r )
2 x = x0 ;
3 for i = 1 : max iter
4 x new = g ( x ) ;
5 i f abs ( x new − x ) < t o l
6 r o o t = x new ;
7 return ;
8 end
9 x = x new ;
10 end
11 e r r o r ( ’ Fixed−p o i n t i t e r a t i o n d i d not c o n v e r g e . ’ ) ;
12 end

6
11.3 Newton-Raphson Method
Given an initial guess x0 , keep refining the root iteratively as:

f (xn )
xn+1 = xn −
f ′ (xn )

Listing 3: Newton-Raphson Method Implementation


1 function r o o t = newton ( f , df , x0 , t o l )
2 x = x0 ;
3 for i = 1:100
4 x new = x − f ( x ) / d f ( x ) ;
5 i f abs ( x new − x ) < t o l
6 r o o t = x new ;
7 return ;
8 end
9 x = x new ;
10 end
11 e r r o r ( ’ Newton−Raphson d i d not c o n v e r g e . ’ ) ;
12 end

12 Other possible codes (Exercise)


Try implementing the following:

1. Modify the Newton-Raphson method to include a stopping condition based


on |f (xn )| < tolerance.
2. Implement the Secant Method for solving f (x) = 0.

7
13 Practice Exercises
13.1 Basic MATLAB Commands
Exercise 1: Compute the following using MATLAB.
√
1. Compute 25 + 50.
2. Find the sine and cosine of 30◦ (convert degrees to radians).
3. Define a variable x = 10 and compute y = x2 + 3x − 5.

13.2 Working with Arrays


Exercise 2: Create the following arrays and perform operations.
1. Define a row vector v = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

2. Define a column vector u = [5; 4; 3; 2; 1].


 
1 2 3
3. Create a 3 × 3 matrix A = 4 5 6.
7 8 9
4. Extract the second row of A.

5. Compute the element-wise multiplication of v and u (hint: use .*).

13.3 Plotting in MATLAB


Exercise 3: Generate a plot using MATLAB.

1. Define x as values from 0 to 3 with a step size of 0.1.


2. Compute y = 5 ln(x + 1) and z = x2 − 1.
3. Plot both functions on the same graph using different colors and line styles.

4. Add labels for the x-axis and y-axis, a title, and a legend.

13.4 Writing MATLAB Functions


Exercise 4: Write a MATLAB function to evaluate a quadratic polynomial.

1. Create a function quad eval that takes a, b, c, x as inputs and computes


f (x) = ax2 + bx + c.
2. Test the function for a = 1, b = −3, c = 2, x = 4.

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