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Basic Mathematical Operations

Module by: Anders Gjendemsjø, Darryl Morrell. E-mail the authors

Based on: Using MATLAB by Anders Gjendemsjø

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Summary: This module covers basic mathematical operations in an m-file environment.

Note: Your browser may not currently support MathML. See our browser support page for additional details. You can always view the correct math in the PDF version.

Operations and Expressions

An m-file environment has all of the standard arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, etc.) and functions (sine, cosine, logarithm, etc.). The table lists the most commonly used operations; in this table, x and y are scalars. (A scalar is a single value, as opposed to a vector or matrix which consists of many values.)

Table 1: Some Common Scalar Mathematical Operations
Operation m-file
x−yxy x-y
x+yxy x+y
xyxy x*y
xyxy x/y
xyxy x^y
exex exp(x)
log10xlog10x log10(x)
lnxlnx log(x)
log2xlog2x log2(x)
cosxx cos(x)
sinxx sin(x)
xx sqrt(x)

Expressions are formed from numbers, variables, and these operations. The operations have different precedences. The ^ operation has the highest precedence; ^ operations are evaluated before any other operations. Multiplication and division have the next highest precedence, and addition and subtraction have the lowest precedence. Precedence is altered by parentheses; expressions within parentheses are evaluated before expressions outside parentheses.

Example 1

The Table below shows several mathematical formulas, the corresponding expressions, and the values that are computed for the expressions.

Table 2: Example Expressions
formula MATLAB Expression Computed Value
52+42 52 42 5^2+4^2 41
5+42 54 2 (5+4)^2 81
2+34−5 23 45 (2 + 3)/(4 - 5) -5
log10100 log10 100 log10(100) 2
ln42+3 ln 4 23 log(4*(2+3)) 2.9957

Useful Tricks

These tricks are occasionally useful, especially when you begin programming with m-files.

  • A semicolon added at the end of a line suppresses the output.
  • Often it is useful to split input over multiple lines. To split a statement across multiple lines, enter three periods ... at the end of the line to indicate it continues on the next line.

Example 2

Splitting the expression 2+34−5 23 45 over multiple lines. 


    (2+3)...
    /(4-5)

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