Examples

1. Assign numeric values to each of the following variable names:

   • wallHeight
   • 1stChoice
   • sumOfAll

       >> wallHeight = 4.566
       
       wallHeight =
       
           4.5660
       
       >> 1stChoice = 3
       ??? 1stChoice = 3
            |
       Error: Unexpected MATLAB expression.
       
       >> sumOfAll = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5
       
       sumOfAll =
       
           15
       
       >> 
       

   Notice the error that occurs when you start a variable name with a digit. This is not allowed in Matlab.

2. Enter the following at the Command Window. What happens? Why?

   >> q+3 = p

       >> q+3 = p
       ??? q+3 = p
           |
       Error: The expression to the left of the equals sign is not a valid target for an assignment.
   
       >>     
       

   This error is generated because it doesn't make sense to assign a value ( p ) to an expression ( q+3 ). You can only assign values to single variable names.

3. What happens when you enter a value like 2,929 as 2,929?

   Try this!

   A = 2,929

   	>> A = 2,929
   
   	A =
   
   		2
   
   
   	ans =
   
   	929
   
   	>> 

   Carefully view the output produced in the Command Window to see that two variables were given values. A gets the value 2 and ans gets the value 929. What if you used two commas?

4. Assign the value 70 to the variable F and write a statement that evaluates this formula and assigns the result to the variable C.
   

   	>> F = 70
   
   	F =
   
   		70
   
   	>> C = (F-32)*5/9
   
   	C =
   
   	    21.1111
   
   	>>  

   The formula given converts a Fahrenheit temperature into the equivalent Celsius temperature.

5. Reassign F to the value 212. Check the Workspace window to see if the value of C changed. Why did or didn't the value of C change?

   The value of C does not change. You would have to also reexecute the C = (F-32)*5/9 statement.