\[ \begin{align}\begin{aligned}\newcommand\blank{~\underline{\hspace{1.2cm}}~}\\% Bold symbols (vectors) \newcommand\bs[1]{\mathbf{#1}}\\% Differential \newcommand\dd[2][]{\mathrm{d}^{#1}{#2}} % use as \dd, \dd{x}, or \dd[2]{x}\\% Poor man's siunitx \newcommand\unit[1]{\mathrm{#1}} \newcommand\num[1]{#1} \newcommand\qty[2]{#1~\unit{#2}}\\\newcommand\per{/} \newcommand\squared{{}^2} \newcommand\cubed{{}^3} % % Scale \newcommand\milli{\unit{m}} \newcommand\centi{\unit{c}} \newcommand\kilo{\unit{k}} \newcommand\mega{\unit{M}} % % Percent \newcommand\percent{\unit{{\kern-4mu}\%}} % % Angle \newcommand\radian{\unit{rad}} \newcommand\degree{\unit{{\kern-4mu}^\circ}} % % Time \newcommand\second{\unit{s}} \newcommand\s{\second} \newcommand\minute{\unit{min}} \newcommand\hour{\unit{h}} % % Distance \newcommand\meter{\unit{m}} \newcommand\m{\meter} \newcommand\inch{\unit{in}} \newcommand\foot{\unit{ft}} % % Force \newcommand\newton{\unit{N}} \newcommand\kip{\unit{kip}} % kilopound in "freedom" units - edit made by Sri % % Mass \newcommand\gram{\unit{g}} \newcommand\g{\gram} \newcommand\kilogram{\unit{kg}} \newcommand\kg{\kilogram} \newcommand\grain{\unit{grain}} \newcommand\ounce{\unit{oz}} % % Temperature \newcommand\kelvin{\unit{K}} \newcommand\K{\kelvin} \newcommand\celsius{\unit{{}^\circ C}} \newcommand\C{\celsius} \newcommand\fahrenheit{\unit{{}^\circ F}} \newcommand\F{\fahrenheit} % % Area \newcommand\sqft{\unit{sq\,\foot}} % square foot % % Volume \newcommand\liter{\unit{L}} \newcommand\gallon{\unit{gal}} % % Frequency \newcommand\hertz{\unit{Hz}} \newcommand\rpm{\unit{rpm}} % % Voltage \newcommand\volt{\unit{V}} \newcommand\V{\volt} \newcommand\millivolt{\milli\volt} \newcommand\mV{\milli\volt} \newcommand\kilovolt{\kilo\volt} \newcommand\kV{\kilo\volt} % % Current \newcommand\ampere{\unit{A}} \newcommand\A{\ampere} \newcommand\milliampereA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\mA{\milli\ampere} \newcommand\kiloampereA{\kilo\ampere} \newcommand\kA{\kilo\ampere} % % Resistance \newcommand\ohm{\Omega} \newcommand\milliohm{\milli\ohm} \newcommand\kiloohm{\kilo\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\kilohm{\kilo\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx \newcommand\megaohm{\mega\ohm} % correct SI spelling \newcommand\megohm{\mega\ohm} % "American" spelling used in siunitx % % Capacitance \newcommand\farad{\unit{F}} \newcommand\F{\farad} \newcommand\microfarad{\micro\farad} \newcommand\muF{\micro\farad} % % Inductance \newcommand\henry{\unit{H}} \newcommand\H{\henry} \newcommand\millihenry{\milli\henry} \newcommand\mH{\milli\henry} % % Power \newcommand\watt{\unit{W}} \newcommand\W{\watt} \newcommand\milliwatt{\milli\watt} \newcommand\mW{\milli\watt} \newcommand\kilowatt{\kilo\watt} \newcommand\kW{\kilo\watt} % % Energy \newcommand\joule{\unit{J}} \newcommand\J{\joule} % % Composite units % % Torque \newcommand\ozin{\unit{\ounce}\,\unit{in}} \newcommand\newtonmeter{\unit{\newton\,\meter}} % % Pressure \newcommand\psf{\unit{psf}} % pounds per square foot \newcommand\pcf{\unit{pcf}} % pounds per cubic foot \newcommand\pascal{\unit{Pa}} \newcommand\Pa{\pascal} \newcommand\ksi{\unit{ksi}} % kilopound per square inch \newcommand\bar{\unit{bar}} \end{aligned}\end{align} \]

Dec 04, 2025 | 421 words | 4 min read

15.1.2. Task 0

Learning Objectives

• Translate fundamental programming concepts from Python to MATLAB.

• Practice writing arithmetic expressions, initializing vectors and matrices, and using loops.

• Understand key differences in syntax, such as input function behavior, array indexing, and loop structure.

Task Instructions

This assignment is designed to be a quick transition from Python to MATLAB. You’ll work through the following parts: Part 1: Basic Calculations, Part 2: Vectors & Matrices, and Part 3: Loops.

Part 1: Basic Calculations

1. Make a copy of the MATLAB template file ENGR133_MATLAB_Template.m and rename the file to ma1_pre_0_username.m.

2. Make sure to fill out all header information, including a short description of the code.

3. In the INITIALIZATION section, hardcode three variables: a = 5, b = 1, and c = 2.

   Note

   While MATLAB has an input function, we’ll hardcode values for this assignment to make publishing your code easier.

4. In the CALCULATIONS section, compute the following three expressions, assigning each result to a new variable. Be mindful of the order of operations and remember that trigonometric functions in MATLAB expect radians.

   a. \(a \cdot b^4 + \tan(c)\)

   b. \(\left( \frac{\pi}{c} - b! \right) + \frac{a}{15}\)

   c. \(b^5 + \frac{c}{4} + \sin^{-1}(1)\)

5. In the OUTPUTS section, print the results of your calculations to the command window. Use the fprintf function to display each result rounded to three decimal places.

   Hint

   The format specifier for this is %.3f.

Part 2: Vectors & Matrices

1. Create a new section in your script called VECTORS & MATRICES.

2. Initialize a row vector v1 = [1, 17, 4] and a \(3 \times 3\) matrix m1 = [4, 6, 19; 3, 52, 6; 7, 9, 14].

3. Modify the vector v1 by replacing its second element with the value \(8\).

   Note

   Remember that MATLAB uses 1-based indexing, not 0-based like Python.

4. Modify the matrix m1 by replacing its first row with the updated vector v1.

5. Ensure both v1 and m1 are displayed in the command window.

Part 3: Loops

1. Create additional INITIALIZATION and CALCULATIONS sections for both while and for loop.

2. In WHILE LOOP INITIALIZATION, initialize the variable x and set it equal to \(0\). This variable will be used for calculations and as a counter variable in the while loop. The purpose of a counter variable is to determine the number of times a loop runs before ending.

3. In WHILE LOOP CALCULATIONS, create a while loop that computes the following equation until \(x \le 10\):

   \[y = (x * 4) + 5\]

4. In the while loop, print the value of \(x\) and \(y\) after performing each calculation. MAKE SURE to include a line within the while loop that increments the value of x by one before each calculation to prevent the code from getting stuck in an infinite loop.

5. In FOR LOOP INITIALIZATION, initialize the following row vector k, which is a 5-element row vector with equally spaced values ranging from \(1\) to \(10\).

   Hint

   Use the linspace function to create this vector

6. In FOR LOOP CALCULATION, begin constructing the for loop. Using appropriate MATLAB syntax, create a for loop that performs the following calculation for every value in vector k. Assign the value in the variable named element.

   \[s = \text{element} * 2\]

7. Print every value of s after performing the calculation using a single fprintf statement within the for loop.

Sample Output

Sample Output

>> ma1_pre_0_username The result to the first calculation is 2.815 The result to the second calculation is 0.904 The result to the third calculation is 3.071

v1 =

1 8 4

m1 =

1 8 4 3 52 6 7 9 14

The value of x = 1. The value of y = 9. The value of x = 2. The value of y = 13. The value of x = 3. The value of y = 17. The value of x = 4. The value of y = 21. The value of x = 5. The value of y = 25. The value of x = 6. The value of y = 29. The value of x = 7. The value of y = 33. The value of x = 8. The value of y = 37. The value of x = 9. The value of y = 41. The value of x = 10. The value of y = 45. The value of x = 11. The value of y = 49. The value of s = 2.0 The value of s = 6.5 The value of s = 11.0 The value of s = 15.5 The value of s = 20.0

Table 15.1 Deliverables

Deliverables	Description
ma1_pre_0_username.m	Your completed MATLAB code.
ma1_pre_0_pub_username.pdf	PDF with published MATLAB code
ma1_pre_0_username.pdf	Flowchart(s) for this task.