This lab introduces (or re-introduces) the MATLAB environment. We focus on making plots and developing a 'computational thinking' approach to the development and testing of MATLAB functions.

Download

• thicklines.m
• quadraticRoots.m
• ME350_assignment_template.docx
• Lab 1 Worksheet

At the end of lab, submit a word-processing document with the results of your work. Also submit the m-files you created to answer these problems.

Lecture/Demo:

• Class orientation
• Launch MATLAB
• Simple calculator exercises
• Save commands in an m-file
  • Set up directory structure
  • Add path to your private toolbox directory
• Calculation with vectors
  • Create vectors from linspace, rand, etc.
  • plot $y = sin(x)$
  • plot a simplified model of the response of a vehicle suspension: $y = e^{-0.3x}\mathrm{cos}(x)$ for $0<x<5\pi$. This shows the need for .* operator
• Copy or save plots in MS Word, LaTeX

Example: Roots of the Quadratic Equation

MATLAB Summary

In this lab, the following code and concepts were introduced

• Entering commands in the command window
• Setting-up directories for saving m-file functions, and pointing MATLAB to those directories
• MATLAB commands and concepts
  • Creating function m-files to store command sequences
  • creating a vector with [ .. ] notation
  • ' for transpose
  • .* and ./ for array operations
  • Plotting data with the plot command
  • Annotating plots with xlabel and ylabel
  • Copying plots into MS Word
  • Saving plots with the print command
• Using a MS Word template for homework and MATLAB assignments