Skip to Main Content
MATLAB®: An Introduction with Applications, Fourth Edition
book

MATLAB®: An Introduction with Applications, Fourth Edition

by Amos Gilat
December 2010
Beginner to intermediate content levelBeginner to intermediate
429 pages
9h 55m
English
Wiley
Content preview from MATLAB®: An Introduction with Applications, Fourth Edition

Chapter 9. Applications in Numerical Analysis

Numerical methods are commonly used for solving mathematical problems that are formulated in science and engineering where it is difficult or impossible to obtain exact solutions. MATLAB has a large library of functions for numerically solving a wide variety of mathematical problems. This chapter explains a number of the most frequently used of these functions. It should be pointed out here that the purpose of this book is to show users how to use MATLAB. Some general information on the numerical methods is given, but the details, which can be found in books on numerical analysis, are not included.

The following topics are presented in this chapter: solving an equation with one unknown, finding a minimum or a maximum of a function, numerical integration, and solving a first-order ordinary differential equation.

Solving an Equation with One Variable

An equation with one variable can be written in the form f(x) = 0. A solution to the equation (also called a root) is a numerical value of x that satisfies the equation. Graphically, a solution is a point where the function f(x) crosses or touches the x axis. An exact solution is a value of x for which the value of the function is exactly zero. If such a value does not exist or is difficult to determine, a numerical solution can be determined by finding an x that is very close to the solution. This is done by the iterative process, where in each iteration the computer determines a value of

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Start your free trial

You might also like

Practical Electronics for Inventors, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

Practical Electronics for Inventors, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

Paul Scherz, Simon Monk

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9780470767856Purchase book