Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Assuming no prior MATLAB experience, this clear, easy-to-read book walks readers through the ins and outs of this powerful software for technical computing, including: Generously illustrated computer screen shots and step-by-step tutorials applied in the areas of mathematics, science, and engineering Clearly shows how MATLAB is used in science and engineering Includes a completely new chapter on Symbolic Math Thoroughly updated to match Matlab's newest release, Matlab 7

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. v)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Chapter 1 Starting with MATLAB (p. 5)
• 1.1 Starting MATLAB, MATLAB Windows (p. 5)
• 1.2 Working in the Command Window (p. 9)
• 1.3 Arithmetic Operations with Scalars (p. 10)
• 1.3.1 Order of Precedence (p. 11)
• 1.3.2 Using MATLAB as a Calculator (p. 11)
• 1.4 Display Formats (p. 12)
• 1.5 Elementary Math Built-In Functions (p. 13)
• 1.6 Defining Scalar Variables (p. 16)
• 1.6.1 The Assignment Operator (p. 16)
• 1.6.2 Rules About Variable Names (p. 18)
• 1.6.3 Predefined Variables and keywords (p. 18)
• 1.7 Useful Commands for Managing Variables (p. 19)
• 1.8 Script Files (p. 20)
• 1.8.1 Notes About Script Files (p. 20)
• 1.8.2 Creating and Saving a Script File (p. 21)
• 1.8.3 Running (Executing) a Script File (p. 22)
• 1.8.4 Current Directory (p. 22)
• 1.9 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 24)
• 1.10 Problems (p. 27)
• Chapter 2 Creating Arrays (p. 33)
• 2.1 Creating a One-Dimensional Array (Vector) (p. 33)
• 2.2 Creating a Two-Dimensional Array (Matrix) (p. 36)
• 2.2.1 The zeros, ones and eye Commands (p. 38)
• 2.3 Notes About Variables in MATLAB (p. 39)
• 2.4 The Transpose Operator (p. 39)
• 2.5 Array Addressing (p. 40)
• 2.5.1 Vector (p. 40)
• 2.5.2 Matrix (p. 41)
• 2.6 Using a Colon: in Addressing Arrays (p. 41)
• 2.7 Adding Elements to Existing Variables (p. 44)
• 2.8 Deleting Elements (p. 46)
• 2.9 Built-In Functions for Handling Arrays (p. 47)
• 2.10 Strings and Strings as Variables (p. 50)
• 2.11 Problems (p. 53)
• Chapter 3 Mathematical Operations with Arrays (p. 57)
• 3.1 Addition and Subtraction (p. 58)
• 3.2 Array Multiplication (p. 59)
• 3.3 Array Division (p. 62)
• 3.4 Element-by-Element Operations (p. 66)
• 3.5 Using Arrays in MATLAB Built-In Math Functions (p. 69)
• 3.6 Built-In Functions for Analyzing Arrays (p. 69)
• 3.7 Generation of Random Numbers (p. 71)
• 3.8 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 73)
• 3.9 Problems (p. 79)
• Chapter 4 Using Script Files and Managing Data (p. 85)
• 4.1 The MATLAB Workspace and the Workspace Window (p. 86)
• 4.2 Input to a Script File (p. 87)
• 4.3 Output Commands (p. 90)
• 4.3.1 The disp Command (p. 91)
• 4.3.2 The fprintf Command (p. 93)
• 4.4 The save and load Commands (p. 101)
• 4.4.1 The save Command (p. 101)
• 4.4.2 The load Command (p. 102)
• 4.5 Importing and Exporting Data (p. 104)
• 4.5.1 Commands for Importing and Exporting Data (p. 104)
• 4.5.2 Using the Import Wizard (p. 106)
• 4.6 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 108)
• 4.7 Problems (p. 113)
• Chapter 5 Two-Dimensional Plots (p. 119)
• 5.1 The plot Command (p. 120)
• 5.1.1 Plot of Given Data (p. 124)
• 5.1.2 Plot of a Function (p. 125)
• 5.2 The fplot Command (p. 126)
• 5.3 Plotting Multiple Graphs in the Same Plot (p. 127)
• 5.3.1 Using the plot Command (p. 127)
• 5.3.2 Using the hold on, hold off Commands (p. 128)
• 5.3.3 Using the line Command (p. 129)
• 5.4 Formatting a Plot (p. 130)
• 5.4.1 Formatting a Plot Using Commands (p. 130)
• 5.4.2 Formatting a Plot Using the Plot Editor (p. 134)
• 5.5 Plots with Logarithmic Axes (p. 135)
• 5.6 Plots with Error Bars (p. 136)
• 5.7 Plots with Special Graphics (p. 138)
• 5.8 Histograms (p. 139)
• 5.9 Polar Plots (p. 142)
• 5.10 Plotting Multiple Plots on the Same Page (p. 143)
• 5.11 Multiple Figure Windows (p. 143)
• 5.12 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 145)
• 5.13 Problems (p. 149)
• Chapter 6 User-Defined Functions and Function Files (p. 155)
• 6.1 Creating a Function File (p. 156)
• 6.2 Structure of a Function File (p. 156)
• 6.2.1 Function Definition Line (p. 157)
• 6.2.2 Input and Output Arguments (p. 158)
• 6.2.3 The H1 Line and Help Text Lines (p. 159)
• 6.2.4 Function Body (p. 160)
• 6.3 Local and Global Variables (p. 160)
• 6.4 Saving a Function File (p. 161)
• 6.5 Using a User-Defined Function (p. 162)
• 6.6 Examples of Simple User-Defined Functions (p. 163)
• 6.7 Comparison Between Script Files and Function Files (p. 165)
• 6.8 Anonymous and Inline Functions (p. 165)
• 6.8.1 Anonymous Functions (p. 166)
• 6.8.2 Inline Functions (p. 169)
• 6.9 Function Functions (p. 170)
• 6.9.1 Using Function Handles for Passing a Function into a Function Function (p. 171)
• 6.9.2 Using a Function Name for Passing a Function into a Function Function (p. 174)
• 6.10 Subfunctions (p. 176)
• 6.11 Nested Functions (p. 178)
• 6.12 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 181)
• 6.13 Problems (p. 184)
• Chapter 7 Programming in MATLAB (p. 191)
• 7.1 Relational and Logical Operators (p. 192)
• 7.2 Conditional Statements (p. 200)
• 7.2.1 The if-end Structure (p. 200)
• 7.2.2 The if-else-end Structure (p. 202)
• 7.2.3 The if-elseif-else-end Structure (p. 204)
• 7.3 The switch-case Statement (p. 205)
• 7.4 Loops (p. 208)
• 7.4.1 for-end Loops (p. 208)
• 7.4.2 while-end Loops (p. 213)
• 7.5 Nested Loops and Nested Conditional Statements (p. 216)
• 7.6 The break and continue Commands (p. 218)
• 7.7 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 219)
• 7.8 Problems (p. 227)
• Chapter 8 Polynomials, Curve Fitting, and Interpolation (p. 235)
• 8.1 Polynomials (p. 235)
• 8.1.1 Value of a Polynomial (p. 236)
• 8.1.2 Roots of a Polynomial (p. 237)
• 8.1.3 Addition, Multiplication, and Division of Polynomials (p. 238)
• 8.1.4 Derivatives of Polynomials (p. 240)
• 8.2 Curve Fitting (p. 241)
• 8.2.1 Curve Fitting with Polynomials, the polyfit Function (p. 241)
• 8.2.2 Curve Fitting with Functions Other than Polynomials (p. 245)
• 8.3 Interpolation (p. 248)
• 8.4 The Basic Fitting Interface (p. 252)
• 8.5 Examples of Matlab Applications (p. 255)
• 8.6 Problems (p. 260)
• Chapter 9 Three-Dimensional Plots (p. 267)
• 9.1 Line Plots (p. 267)
• 9.2 Mesh and Surface Plots (p. 268)
• 9.3 Plots with Special Graphics (p. 275)
• 9.4 The view Command (p. 277)
• 9.5 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 279)
• 9.6 Problems (p. 284)
• Chapter 10 Applications in Numerical Analysis (p. 289)
• 10.1 Solving an Equation with One Variable (p. 289)
• 10.2 Finding a Minimum or a Maximum of a Function (p. 292)
• 10.3 Numerical Integration (p. 294)
• 10.4 Ordinary Differential Equations (p. 297)
• 10.5 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 301)
• 10.6 Problems (p. 307)
• Chapter 11 Symbolic Math (p. 313)
• 11.1 Symbolic Objects, and Symbolic Expressions (p. 314)
• 11.1.1 Creating Symbolic Objects (p. 314)
• 11.1.2 Creating Symbolic Expressions (p. 316)
• 11.1.3 The findsym Command and the Default Symbolic Variable (p. 319)
• 11.2 Changing the Form of an Existing Symbolic Expression (p. 320)
• 11.2.1 The collect, expand, and factor Commands (p. 320)
• 11.2.2 The simplify and simple Commands (p. 322)
• 11.2.3 The pretty Command (p. 323)
• 11.3 Solving Algebraic Equations (p. 324)
• 11.4 Differentiation (p. 329)
• 11.5 Integration (p. 331)
• 11.6 Solving an Ordinary Differential Equation (p. 332)
• 11.7 Plotting Symbolic Expressions (p. 335)
• 11.8 Numerical Calculations with Symbolic Expressions (p. 338)
• 11.9 Examples of MATLAB Applications (p. 342)
• 11.10 Problems (p. 350)
• Appendix Summary of Characters, Commands, and Functions (p. 357)
• Answers to Selected Problems (p. 363)
• Index (p. 369)

Author notes provided by Syndetics