Matrices, Vectors, and Scalars

One of the most important distinguishing features of MATLAB® is how easy it is to work with the matrix data type. We start this chapter with the definition of a matrix. Then, much of the mechanics of working with matrices in MATLAB will be presented. Given these fundamentals, matrix algebra will be applied to several applications, including circuit analysis. After you have completed this chapter, you will know about the origin of the concept of a matrix, the fundamentals of matrix algebra, how MATLAB is particularly well suited for matrix algebra, about many built-in MATLAB functions to find properties of a matrix, how to use MATLAB for resistive circuit analysis and how to solve systems of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations.