CME 192: Introduction to MATLAB

Problem Set 1: Matrix Algebra

1. Scripts

Define a sequence as a map from the set of positive integers to the set of real
numbers. A sequence is denoted {an } instead of a(n), so that we can think of
an as the nth element in an ordered set.
A sequence {an } is said to be periodic if there exists a positive integer k such
that an = an+k for all sufficiently large values of n. In this case, k is called the
period of {an }.
Suppose {an } is given by an = 5n for n > 0. Define {bn } to be a sequence in
which bn is the last 4 digits of an . Verify that {bn } is periodic and find its period.

2. Variables

A nested radical is a radical expression which contains another radical expression.

q q q
3 3 3
3 + 2, 1 5, 1+ 2+ 3
Expressions shown above are examples of a nested radical.
Define t to be the real number given by the following infinitely nested radical.
r

q
6 + 6 + 6 +

Note that t is positive. Verify numerically that t = 3 as described below.

(a) Define a variable t with an initial value of 6.

(b) Assign the value 6 + t to t.
(c) Repeat (b) until t approaches 3.
It is possible to compute t in closed form by noting that

t = 6 + t.
By squaring both sides and simplifying, we can write
t2 t 6 = (t 3)(t + 2) = 0,
which has roots at t = 2 and t = 3. Since t > 0, it must be that t = 3.

1
3. Numerical Expressions

Define real-valued variables x, y, and z as shown below.

x = 3.14 1012 , y = log3 , z = 2 csc 1
If a, b, and c are positive real numbers, the change of base for the logarithmic
function is given by
loga c
logb c = .
loga b
Evaluate each of the following expressions. Call help elfun for help topics on
elementary functions.
r
y
(a) u =
x2 + y 2 + z 2
 z
 y + zy 

(b) v =   
xz 4 
3  2 
(c) w = arg ey sin1 z in degrees
2
In (c), the argument of a complex number , denoted arg , is the angle between
and the positive real axis on the complex plane as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The complex plane.

Recall also that the angular units satisfy

180 = (radians).
Display your results in format short e.

4. Matrix Operations

Construct the following 4 9 matrix and carry out the calculations as described
below.
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
K= 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

2
Call help elmat and help matfun for help topics on elementary matrices and
matrix functions.
(a) Define a row vector V consisting of integers from 1 to 9 in ascending order.
(b) Construct the matrix K by concatenating copies of V shifted by multiples
of 10.
(c) Compute AB, where A and B, respectively, are submatrices of K corre-
sponding to its first four and last three columns.
(d) Construct a matrix L by appling the natural logarithm to the square of
every entry of AB.
(e) Define a column vector W in which its nth entry is the sum of all entries
in the nth row of L.
(f) Construct the matrix M of the form
 
W W W
.
W W W

Use the repmat function to replicate copies of matrix W .

(g) Compute 10M T M , where M T denotes the transpose matrix of M .
Display your results in format long g.