MATLAB For Dummies, 2ed

Description

MATLAB is a high-level language and problem-solving environment used across all the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and commonly adopted for use in colleges around the world. The computational tools within the software are powerful and can be easy to use with experience, but a comprehensive and easy-to-use manual is an essential introduction. MATLAB For Dummies is a painless introduction to one of the most popular software tools for numerical computation, visualization, and programming and will cover everything a student or new professional would need to get started.

About the Author

John Paul Mueller is a freelance author and technical editor. He has writing in his blood, having produced hundreds of books and articles to date. The topics range from networking to home security and from database management to heads-down programming. During his time at Cubic Corporation, John was exposed to reliability engineering and has had a continued interest in probability ever since. He is a veteran Dummies author.

Table of Contents

Book Review

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part 1: Getting Started With MATLAB

Chapter 1: Introducing MATLAB and Its Many Uses

Putting MATLAB in Its Place
Understanding how MATLAB relates to a Turing machine
Using MATLAB as more than a calculator
Determining why you need MATLAB
Discovering Who Uses MATLAB for Real-World Tasks
Knowing How to Get the Most from MATLAB
Getting the basic computer skills
Defining the math requirements
Applying what you know about other procedural languages
Understanding how this book will help you
Getting Over the Learning Curve

Chapter 2: Starting Your Copy of MATLAB

Installing MATLAB
Discovering which platforms MATLAB supports
Getting your copy of MATLAB
Performing the installation
Activating the product
Meeting the MATLAB Interface
Starting MATLAB for the first time
Considering the default Toolstrip tabs
Working with the Quick Access toolbar (QAT)
Employing the Command Window
Getting additional help with MATLAB
Using the Current Folder toolbar
Viewing the Current Folder window
Changing the MATLAB layout

Chapter 3: Interacting with MATLAB

Using MATLAB as a Calculator
Entering information at the prompt
Entering a formula
Copying and pasting formulas
Changing the Command Window formatting
Suppressing Command Window output
Understanding the MATLAB Math Syntax
Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
Working with exponents
Organizing Your Storage Locker
Using ans -- the default storage locker
Creating your own storage lockers
Operating MATLAB as More Than a Calculator
Learning the truth
Using the built-in functions
Accessing the function browser
Recovering from Mistakes
Understanding the MATLAB error messages
Stopping MATLAB when it hangs

Chapter 4: Starting, Storing, and Saving MATLAB Files

Examining MATLAB's File Structure
Understanding the MATLAB files and what they do
Exploring folders with the GUI
Exploring folders with commands
Working with files in MATLAB
Accessing and Sharing MATLAB Files
Opening
Exporting
Importing
Saving Your Work
Saving variables with the GUI
Saving variables using commands
Saving commands with the GUI
Saving commands using commands
Using online storage

Part 2: Manipulating and Plotting Data in MATLAB

Chapter 5: Embracing Vectors, Matrices, and Higher Dimensions

Working with Vectors and Matrices
Understanding MATLAB's perspective of linear algebra
Entering data
Adding and Subtracting
Understanding the Many Ways to Multiply and Divide
Performing scalar multiplication and division
Employing matrix multiplication
Dividing two vectors
Effecting matrix division
Creating powers of matrices
Using complex numbers
Working with exponents
Working with Higher Dimensions
Creating a multidimensional matrix
Accessing a multidimensional matrix
Replacing individual elements
Replacing a range of elements
Modifying the matrix size
Using cell arrays and structures
Using the Matrix Helps

Chapter 6: Understanding Plotting Basics

Considering Plots
Understanding what you can do with plots
Comparing MATLAB plots to spreadsheet graphs
Creating a plot using commands
Creating a plot using the Workspace window
Creating a plot using the Plots tab options
Using the Plot Function
Working with line color, markers, and line style
Creating multiple plots in a single command
Modifying Any Plot
Making simple changes
Adding to a plot
Deleting a plot
Working with subplots
Plotting with D Information

Chapter 7: Using Advanced Plotting Features

Plotting with D Information
Using the bar() function to obtain a flat D plot
Using bar() to obtain a dimensional D plot
Using barh() and more
Enhancing Your Plots
Getting an axes handle
Modifying axes labels
Adding a title
Rotating label text
Employing annotations
Printing your plot
Using the Plot Extras
Creating axes dates using datetick()
Creating plots with colorbar()
Interacting with daspect
Interacting with pbaspect

Part 3: Streamlining MATLAB

Chapter 8: Automating Your Work

Understanding What Scripts Do
Creating less work for yourself
Defining when to use a script
Creating a Script
Writing your first script
Using commands for user input
Copying and pasting into a script
Converting the Command History into a script
Continuing long strings
Adding comments to your script
Revising Scripts
Calling Scripts
Improving Script Performance
Analyzing Scripts for Errors
Using the MATLAB Profiler to Improve Performance

Chapter 9: Expanding MATLAB's Power with Functions

Working with Built-in Functions
Learning about built-in functions
Sending data in and getting data out
Creating a Function
Understanding script and function differences
Understanding built-in function and custom function differences
Writing your first function
Using the new function
Passing data in
Passing data out
Creating and using global variables
Using subfunctions
Nesting functions
Using Other Types of Functions
Inline functions
Anonymous functions

Chapter 10: Adding Structure to Your Scripts

Making Decisions
Using the if statement
Using the switch statement
Understanding the switch difference
Deciding between if and switch
Creating Recursive Functions
Performing Tasks Repetitively
Using the for statement
Using the while statement
Starting a new loop iteration using continue
Ending processing using break
Ending processing using return
Determining which loop to use
Creating Menus

Chapter 11: Working with Live Scripts

Comparing a Live Script to a Regular Script
Working with the Live Editor
Opening the Live Editor
Working with the Output pane
Adding formatted text
Using plots within the coded area
Incorporating graphics
Incorporating controls
Running Live Script Sections
Diagnosing Coding Errors

Chapter 12: Working with Live Functions

Comparing a Live Function to a Regular Function
Understanding Live Function Flexibility Differences
Creating a Live Function
Running a Live Function
Refactoring a Live Function
Using the specialized coding buttons
Going to a specific function
Converting a Function to a Live Function
Sharing Live Functions and Live Scripts
Using an interactive document
Employing a full screen presentation
Working with plain text
Creating a static document
Performing Comparisons and Merges
Comparing Live Functions and Live Scripts
Merging Live Functions and Live Scripts

Chapter 13: Designing and Using Classes

A Brief Overview of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Defining an object
Considering how properties define an object
Using methods to interact with an object
Listening to an object using events
Understanding the need for privacy
Understanding OOP in MATLAB
Comparing MATLAB OOP to other languages
Uses of classes and objects in MATLAB
Performing tasks with objects in MATLAB
Creating a Basic MATLAB Class
Starting the class
Adding properties
Specifying methods

Chapter 14: Creating MATLAB Apps

Working with the App Designer
Understanding apps
Getting apps
Starting the App Designer
Defining an Interface
Understanding the various components
Changing the component properties
Making the Interface Functional
Working with Code View
Creating a callback function
Running the App
Packaging Your App

Chapter 15: Building Projects

Considering the Need for Projects
Creating a New Project
Choosing a project type
Using the Project editor
Understanding the Project Dependencies
Running Required Checks
Checking project integrity
Looking for potential updates

Part 4: Employing Advanced MATLAB Techniques

Chapter 16: Importing and Exporting Data

Importing Data
Avoiding older import/export function calls
Performing import basics
Importing mixed strings and numbers
Importing selected rows or columns
Exporting Data
Performing export basics
Exporting scripts and functions
Working with Images
Exporting images
Importing images

Chapter 17: Printing and Publishing Your Work

Using Commands to Format Text
Modifying font appearance
Using special characters
Adding math symbols
Publishing Your MATLAB Data
Performing advanced script and function publishing tasks
Saving your figures to disk
Printing Your Work
Configuring the output page
Printing the data

Chapter 18: Recovering from Mistakes

Working with Error Messages
Responding to error messages
Understanding the MException class
Creating error and warning messages
Setting warning message modes
Understanding Quick Alerts
Relying on Common Fixes for MATLAB's Error Messages
Making Your Own Error Messages
Developing the custom error message
Creating useful error messages
Using Good Coding Practices

Part 5: Specific MATLAB Applications

Chapter 19: Solving Equations and Finding Roots

Working with the Symbolic Math Toolbox
Obtaining your copy of the Symbolic Math Toolbox
Installing the Symbolic Math Toolbox
Working with the GUI
Typing a simple command in the Command Window
Performing Algebraic Tasks
Differentiating between numeric and symbolic algebra
Solving quadratic equations
Working with cubic and other nonlinear equations
Understanding interpolation
Working with Statistics
Understanding descriptive statistics
Understanding robust statistics
Employing the Symbolic Math Toolbox for plotting

Chapter 20: Performing Analysis

Using Linear Algebra
Working with determinants
Performing reduction
Using eigenvalues
Understanding factorization
Employing Calculus
Working with differential calculus
Using integral calculus
Working with multivariate calculus
Solving Differential Equations
Using the numerical approach
Using the symbolic approach

Part 6: The Part of Tens

Chapter 21: The Top Ten Uses of MATLAB

Working with Linear Algebra
Performing Numerical Analysis
Designing a Neural Network Simulation
Getting Involved in Science
Logging Sensor Data
Exploring Research
Creating Light Animations Using Arduino
Employing Image Processing
Controlling Industrial Equipment
Performing Audio Compression Using Wavelets

Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Make a Living Using MATLAB

Working with Green Technology
Creating Speech Recognition Software
Performing Antenna Analysis and Design
Getting Disease under Control
Becoming a Computer Chip Designer
Working with Robots
Keeping the Trucks Rolling
Designing Equipment Used in the Field
Reducing Risks Using Simulation
Creating Security Solutions

Appendix A: MATLAB Functions

Appendix B: MATLAB's Plotting Routines

Index