An Introduction To Self Defined Functions In Matlab

ABSTRACT

Matlab is a mathematical software to solve the problems which can be converted to Matrices. Matlab is built up of two words one is Mat and other is lab. Mat means matrix and lab means laboratory. Hence Matlab means matrix laboratory. This software is widely used in solving mathematical problems that arise in the field of science and engineering. Matlab is mostly used in the field of linear algebra (vector spaces), fundamentals of calculus and differential equations. We can use Matlab to solve many types of linear algebraic, calculus problems and differential equations symbolically for exact closed form expressions. If the exact solutions of differential equations are not available then we can find the exact solution by numerical methods. In our study we focus mostly on linear algebra using Matlab or we  can say that vector spaces using Matlab. The problems of vector spaces are solved in Matlab in a clear and easy to understand manner. Essential topics in the vector space or linear algebra are selected and presented. These topics include null space, rank, row reduced echelon form, solution of homogeneous system of linear equations etc. These solutions are carried out by hand as normally done in classes and verified by the Matlab commands. Students thus understand detailed mathematical process for obtaining solutions. They are at the same time, realize the software capability that can provide the same solution effectively in the short time. There are so many functions of vector space which are not defined (inbuilt) in MATLAB. But Matlab provide us a good feature in this feature we can construct a function for our use according to our requirements. This can be done by the help of M- files in Matlab. We can go to new M- file by using the syntax Matlab >> File >> New >> M- files.

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