INTRODUCTION TO

MATLAB
Kadin Tseng
Boston University
Scientific Computing and Visualization
 Introduction to MATLAB
2
 It is developed by The Mathworks, Inc. (http://www.mathworks.com)

 It is an interactive, integrated, environment

• for numerical/symbolic, scientific computations and other apps.
• shorter program development and debugging time than traditional
programming languages such as FORTRAN and C.
• slow (compared with FORTRAN or C) because it is interpreted.
• automatic memory management; no need to declare arrays.
• intuitive, easy to use.
• compact notations.
 Introduction to MATLAB
3

 Latest version is MATLAB 2014a

 For Windows: double click MATLAB icon
 For Linux clusters: scc1% matlab
 Either case spawns a MATLAB window with >> prompt.
>>
>>

>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
 Introduction to MATLAB
4

 Variables
 case sensitive, NAME and Name are 2 distinct names.
• variable begins with a , A2z or a2z
• can be a mix of letters, digits, and underscores ( vector_A)
• reserved characters: % = + – ~ ; : ! [] () , @ # $& ^
• up to 63 characters
• Commands/Functions/scripts
• performs specific tasks; same naming rules as for variables
 File names
• command files should be named with a suffix of ".m",
. An m-file typically contains a sequence of MATLAB
commands that will be executed in order
• A file may contain a collection of commands, functions
• A file may also be just data (strings, numbers
 Introduction to MATLAB
5
,
• Some characters are by for various purposes. Some
as arithmetic or matrix operators: =, +, , *, / , \ and others are used
to perform a multitude of operations. Reserved characters cannot be
used in variable or function names. They may have multiple uses.
• >>
>>
• >>
a=
3
• >>
>>
• >>
>>
• >>
d=
6
 Introduction to MATLAB
6

• >>
x=
1 3 5 7 9
• >>
y=
3 4 5
• >>

X=
1 2 3
4 5 6
• >>
ans =
6
 Introduction to MATLAB
7

>>

>>
>>
x=
1
2
3
>>
ans =
2 3
>>
ans =
6
 Introduction to MATLAB
8

• >>
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 6860-EA46
Directory of C:\Program Files\MATLAB704\work
01/31/2007 10:56 AM <DIR> .
01/31/2007 10:56 AM <DIR> ..
06/13/2006 12:09 PM 12 foo.exe
06/13/2006 08:57 AM 77 mkcopy.m
• >>
total 0
-rw-r--r-- 1 kadin scv 0 Jan 19 15:53 file1.m
-rw-r--r-- 1 kadin scv 0 Jan 19 15:53 file2.m
-rw-r--r-- 1 kadin scv 0 Jan 19 15:53 file3.m
>>
 Introduction to MATLAB
9

>>
>>
>>
5 7 9
>>
A=
1 2 3
4 5 6
>>
B=
1 4
2 5
3 6
Other ways to create B ? (hint: with and )
 Introduction to MATLAB
10
>>
C=
14 32
32 77
>>
D=
1 4 9
16 25 36
>>
E=
1 1 1
1 1 1
>>
Your variables are:
A B C D E a b d
 Introduction to MATLAB
11
>>
Name Size Bytes Class Attributes
A 2x3 48 double
B 3x2 48 double
C 2x2 32 double
D 2x3 48 double
E 2x3 48 double
a 1x3 24 double
b 1x3 24 double
c 1x3 24 double

>>
>>
Name Size Bytes Class
A 2x3 24 single
>>
 Introduction to MATLAB
12

Utilities to initialize or define arrays:

Trigonometric and hyperbolic functions :
These utilities can be used on scalar or vector inputs

>>
 Introduction to MATLAB
13
Scalar operation . . .
for j=1:3 % columns
for i=1:3 % rows
a(i,j) = rand; % a(i,j) = random number
b(i,j) = 0; % b(i,j) = 0 unless . . .
if a(i,j) > 0.5
b(i,j) = 1;
end
end
end

Equivalent vector operations . . .

A = rand(3); % A is a 3x3 random number double array
B = zeros(3); % Initialize B as a 3x3 array of zeroes
B(A > 0.5) = 1; % set to 1 all elements of B for which A > 0.5
 Introduction to MATLAB
14
A cell array is a special array of arrays. Each element of the cell
array may point to a scalar, an array, or another cell array.
>>
>>
>>
>>
C=
[2x2 double] [1x3 double] {1x1 cell}
[2x1 double] ‘This is a string.‘ []
>>
ans =
1 3
4 2
>>
Related utilities:
 Introduction to MATLAB
15
Ideal layout for grouping arrays that are related.
>> name(1).last = ‘Smith’; name(2).last = ‘Hess’;
>> name(1).first = ‘Mary’; name(2).first = ‘Robert’;
>> name(1).sex = ‘female’; name(2).sex = ‘male’;
>> name(1).age = 45; name(2).age = 50;
>> name(2)
ans =
last: 'Hess'
first: 'Robert'
sex: 'male'
age: 50
Alternative style:
>> name = struct(‘last’,{Smith’,’Hess’}, ‘first’,{Mary’,’Robert’},…
(‘sex’,{female’,’male’}, ‘age’,{45,50});

Related utilities:
 Introduction to MATLAB
16
There are many types of files in MATLAB.
Only script-, function-, and mat-files are covered here:

1.script m-files (.m) -- group of commands; reside in base workspace

2.function m-files (.m) -- memory access controlled; parameters passed
as input, output arguments; reside in own workspace
3.mat files (.mat) -- binary (or text) files handled with and
4.mex files (.mex) -- runs C/FORTRAN codes from m-file
5.eng files (.eng) -- runs m-file from C/FORTRAN code
6.C codes (.c) – C codes generated by MATLAB compiler
7.P codes (.p) – converted m-files to hide source for security
 Introduction to MATLAB
17
If you have a group of commands that are expected to be executed
repeatedly, it is convenient to save them in a file . . .
>> edit mytrig.m % enter commands in editor window

Select File/Save to save it as mytrig.m

A script shares same memory space from which it was invoked.

Define x, then use it in mytrig.m (mytrig can “see” x):
>>
>>
a = 0.5000
b = 0.8660
Script works as if sequentially inserting the commands in mytrig.m at the >>
 Introduction to MATLAB
18
• Declared with the key word , with optional output parameters
on the left and optional input on the right of =. All other parameters
within function reside in function’s own workspace; deleted upon
exiting the function.
Use MATLAB editor to create file: >> edit average.m

• Recommendation: saves file with name same as function name

• It may be called from a script or another function
• >>
a=
2
>>
 Introduction to MATLAB
19
Scripts
• Pros:
- convenient; script’s variables are in same workspace as caller’s
• Cons:
- slow; script commands loaded and interpreted each time used
- risks of variable name conflict inside & outside of script
Functions
• Pros:
• Scope of function’s variables is confined to within function. No
worry for name conflict with those outside of function.
• What comes in and goes out are tightly controlled which helps when
debugging becomes necessary.
• Compiled the first time it is used; runs faster subsequent times.
• Easily be deployed in another project.
• Auto cleaning of temporary variables.
• Cons:
• I/O are highly regulated, if the function requires many pre-defined
variables, it is cumbersome to pass in and out of the function – a
script m-file is more convenient.
 Introduction to MATLAB
20
>> % creates a special matrix; handy for testing
>> zeros(n,m) % creates matrix of (0)
>> ones(n,m) % creates matrix of (1)
>> rand(n,m) % creates matrix of random numbers
>> repmat(a,n,m replicates by rows and columns
>> diag(M) % extracts the diagonals of a matrix M
>> help elmat % list all elementary matrix operations ( or )
>> abs(x); % absolute value of
>> exp(x); % to the x-th power
>> fix(x); % rounds x to integer towards 0
>> log10(x); % common logarithm of x to the base 10
>> rem(x,y); % remainder of x/y
>> mod(x, y); % modulus after division – unsigned rem
>> sqrt(x); % square root of x
>> sin(x); % sine of x; x in radians
>> acoth(x) % inversion hyperbolic cotangent of x
 Introduction to MATLAB
21
 Line plot
 Bar graph
 Surface plot
 Contour plot
 MATLAB tutorial on 2D, 3D visualization tools as well as other graphics
packages available in our tutorial series.
 Introduction to MATLAB
22
>> t = 0:pi/100:2*pi;
>> y = sin(t);
>> plot(t,y)
 Introduction to MATLAB
23
>> xlabel(‘t’);
>> ylabel(‘sin(t)’);
>> title(‘The plot of t vs sin(t)’);
 Introduction to MATLAB
24
>> y2 = sin(t-0.25);
>> y3 = sin(t+0.25);
>> plot(t,y,t,y2,t,y3) % make 2D line plot of 3 curves
>> legend('sin(t)','sin(t-0.25)','sin(t+0.25',1)
 Introduction to MATLAB
25
Generally, MATLAB’s default graphical settings are adequate which make
plotting fairly effortless. For more customized effects, use the get and set
commands to change the behavior of specific rendering properties.
>> hp1 = plot(1:5) % returns the handle of this line plot
>> get(hp1) % to view line plot’s properties and their values
>> set(hp1, ‘lineWidth’) % show possible values for lineWidth
>> set(hp1, ‘lineWidth’, 2) % change line width of plot to 2
>> gcf % returns current figure handle
>> gca % returns current axes handle
>> get(gcf) % gets current figure’s property settings
>> set(gcf, ‘Name’, ‘My First Plot’) % Figure 1 => Figure 1: My First Plot
>> get(gca) % gets the current axes’ property settings
>> figure(1) % create/switch to Figure 1 or pop Figure 1 to the front
>> clf % clears current figure
>> close % close current figure; “close 3” closes Figure 3
>> close all % close all figures
 Introduction to MATLAB
26
>> x = magic(3); % generate data for bar graph
>> bar(x) % create bar chart
>> grid % add grid for clarity
 Introduction to MATLAB
27
• Many MATLAB utilities are available in both command and function forms.

• For this example, both forms produce the same effect:

• >> print –djpeg mybar % print as a command
• >> print('-djpeg', 'mybar') % print as a function

• For this example, the command form yields an unintentional outcome:

• >> myfile = 'mybar'; % myfile is defined as a string
• >> print –djpeg myfile % as a command, myfile is treated as text
• >> print('-djpeg', myfile) % as a function, myfile is treated as a variable
% i.e., ‘mybar’ is passed into print

• Other frequently used utilities that are available in both forms are:
• save, load
 Introduction to MATLAB
28
>> Z = peaks; % generate data for plot; peaks returns function values
>> surf(Z) % surface plot of Z

Try these commands also:

>> shading flat
>> shading interp
>> shading faceted
>> grid off
>> axis off
>> colorbar
>> colormap(‘winter’)
>> colormap(‘jet’)
 Introduction to MATLAB
29
>> Z = peaks;
>> contour(Z, 20) % contour plot of Z with 20 contours

>> contourf(Z, 20); % with color fill

>> colormap('hot') % map option
>> colorbar % make color bar
 Introduction to MATLAB
30
• Integration of cosine from 0 to π/2.
• Use mid-point rule for simplicity.

m a ih m

 cos( x)dx    cos( x )dx   cos(a  (i  12 )h)h

b

a a ( i 1) h
i 1 i 1

mid-point of increment

cos(x) ; % range
; % # of increments
h ; % increment
 Introduction to MATLAB
31
% integration with for-loop
tic
m = 100;
a = 0; % lower limit of integration
b = pi/2; % upper limit of integration
h = (b – a)/m; % increment length
integral = 0; % initialize integral
for i=1:m
x = a+(i-0.5)*h; % mid-point of increment i
integral = integral + cos(x)*h;
end
toc

a b
X(1) = a + h/2 X(m) = b - h/2
 Introduction to MATLAB
32
% integration with vector form
tic
m = 100;
a = 0; % lower limit of integration
b = pi/2; % upper limit of integration
h = (b – a)/m; % increment length
x = a+h/2:h:b-h/2; % mid-point of m increments
integral = sum(cos(x))*h;
toc

a b
X(1) = a + h/2 X(m) = b - h/2
 Introduction to MATLAB
33
1. Write a program (with editor) to generate the figure that describe the
integration scheme we discussed. (Hint: use plot to plot the cosine curve.
Use bar to draw the rectangles that depict the integrated value for each
interval. Save as plotIntegral.m
2. Compute the cosine integrals, from 0 to pi/2, using 10 different increment
sizes (10, 20, 30, . . . , 100). Plot these 10 values to see how the solution
converges to the analytical value of 1.
 Introduction to MATLAB
34
a = 0; b=pi/2; % lower and upper limits of integration
m = 8; % number of increments
h = (b-a)/m; % increment size
x= a+h/2:h:b-h/2; % m mid-points
bh = bar(x,cos(x),1,'c'); % make bar chart with bars full width (1) and cyan (‘c’)
hold % all plots will be superposed on same figure
x = a:h/10:b; % use more points at which to evaluate cosine
f = cos(x); % compute cosine at x
ph = plot(x,f,'r'); % plots x vs f, in red
% Compute integral with different values of m to study convergence
for i=1:10
n(i) = 10+(i-1)*10;
h = (b-a)/n(i);
x = a+h/2:h:b-h/2;
integral(i) = sum(cos(x)*h);
end
figure % create a new figure
plot(n, integral)
 Introduction to MATLAB
35

 (www.bu.edu/tech/research)

www.bu.edu/tech/accounts/special/research/accounts

•
•
• Web-based tutorials
(www.bu.edu/tech/about/research/training/live-tutorials)
(MPI, OpenMP, MATLAB, IDL, Graphics tools)
• HPC consultations by appointment
• Kadin Tseng (kadin@bu.edu)
• Yann Tambouret (yannpaul@bu.edu)