Basic MATLAB

The course is offered as part of the Computer Aided Measurements in Physics programme and as a stand-alone course at the University of Gothenburg.

The course covers the MATLAB mathematical software. This includes the most common MATLAB commands, how to write M-files and how to present data visually in graphical form.

The mathematical content covers vectors, systems of equations, matrix algebra, curves and surfaces, interpolation, derivatives, integrals, trigonometric functions, curve fitting, statistics, mean, standard deviation, histograms, first-order differential equations and complex numbers.

Upon completion of the course, the student should,

Knowledge and understanding

• be familiar with a basic set of the most common MATLAB commands
• understand how basic mathematics is handled in MATLAB 

Skills and abilities

• solve mathematical problems from the MATLAB command line
• be able to write generic M-files to solve more complex mathematical problems
• present results graphically in the form of diagrams, histograms or 3D graphs
• solve systems of equations in MATLAB
• describe what a matrix is and why matrices are central to MATLAB
• handle elementary matrix algebra
• write functions in MATLAB
• calculate derivatives and integrals in MATLAB
• explain how random numbers are generated in MATLAB
• calculate mean and standard deviation in MATLAB
• solve first-order differential equations numerically in MATLAB
• handle complex numbers in MATLAB
• perform simple curve fitting in MATLAB 

Critical thinking and approach

• understand the advantages and disadvantages of using MATLAB
• be familiar with the add-on packages available for MATLAB and what they offer
• understand the risks involved in relying on numerical computer calculations

The course consists of a number of lectures and practical sessions.

The assessment consists of a number of laboratory assignments.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

On this course, students are awarded one of the following grades: Pass with Distiction (VG), Pass (G) or Fail (U).

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.