MATLAB Vectors

After reading the MATLAB vector topic, you will able to implement row vectors and column vectors in MATLAB, you will understand vector types, theory, examples, and vector handling built-in Functions.

A MATLAB vector is a one-dimensional array of numbers. Square brackets are used for defining Vector in MATLAB. The semi-colon is used within the square brackets for separating the rows, and space or comma used within the square brackets for separating the elements.

MATLAB – Vectors types

In MATLAB we can create vector either in the row or in the column and we can say MATLAB allow us to type vectors in two types

• Row Vectors
• Column Vectors

MATLAB – Row Vectors

An array having only one row and any numbers of columns.

General Form:

x = [a1 a2 a3]

or

x = [a1, a2, a3]

The Row vectors x is created by typing elements a1, a2 and a3 within the square brackets and use comma or space for separating the elements.

Example

Aim (1): To create Row vector x having elements 2,3 and 5.

Program (1):

x=[2 3 5]

Output (1):

x =      2     3     5

or

Program (1):

x=[2,3,5]

Output (1):

x =      2     3     5

MATLAB – Column Vectors

An array having only one column and any numbers of rows.

General Form:

x = [a1; a2; a3]

The column vector x is created by typing elements a1, a2 and a3 within the square brackets and use the semicolon for separating the rows.

Example

Aim (1): To create Column vector x having elements 2,3 and 5.

Program (1):

x=[2;3;5]

Output (1)

x =

    2
    3
    5

Selecting a single Element of a Vector

General Form:

c = x(i)

The variable c stores the element at position i^th of vector x.

Example

Aim (1): To create row vector x having elements as shown below and also extract the element present at the 2^nd position of row vector x.

The elements of vector x are 1, 30 and 20.

Program (1):

x=[1,30,20]

c=x(2)

Output (1)

x =

     1    30    20

c =

    30

Selecting all Elements of a Vector

Using colon: operator, the whole vector elements can be accessed.

General Form:

c = x(:)

The variable c stores all the elements of vector x.

Example

Aim (1): To create row vector x having elements as shown below and also extract all the element in row vector x.

Program (1):

x=[1,30,20]

c=x(:)

Output (1)

x =

1    30    20

c =

1

30

20

Explanation

• statement c=x(:) access all the elements of a row vector.

Selecting the range of Elements of a Vector

Consider the statements in MATLAB is given by

Output
x =

2     3     4     5     6

ans =

2     3     4
Changing Elements of a Vector
Consider the statements in MATLAB is given by
Output
x =

2     3     4

x =

5     3     4
Adding element to a Vector
Elements can be added to an existing vector.
output
x =

2     3     4

x =

2     3     4     5
Appending Vector to a Vector
Two or more vectors can be joined and results in a single vector.
output
x =

2     3

y =

21    32

z =

2     3    21    32
Deleting element of a Vector
Elements can be removed from an existing vector.
output
x =

2     3     4

x =

2     4
Deleting all Elements of a Vector
Using colon: operator, the whole vector elements can be deleted.
Example
Aim (1): To create row vector x having elements as shown below and also extract all the element in row vector x.
Program (1):
x=[1,30,20]

x(:)=[]
Output (1)
x =

[]
Explanation

statement x(:)=[] removes all the elements of a row vector.

Deleting the range of Elements of a Vector
Consider the statements in MATLAB is given by
Output
x =

2     3     4     5     6

x =

5     6
Vector handling built-in Functions
Some of commonly used vector handling functions like length(), size(), sort(), min() and max().
length() : This function gives the total number of items in a vector.
Consider the statements in MATLAB is given by
Output
x =

2     3     4     5     6

c =

5
size() : This function gives total numbers of rows and columns in a vector.





Output
x =

2     3     4     5     6

c =

1     5
sort() : This function arranges all the elements of a vector in ascending order.
Output
x =

22    13    14    52     6

c =

6    13    14    22    52
max() : This function gives the largest item in the vector.
Output
12
min() : This function gives the smallest item in the vector.
Output
3

Related Topics


MATLAB linspace
linspace( ) command or function creates a row vector with elements that are linearly (equally)…


MATLAB length
length() command or function gives the number of elements in a vector or length of…


MATLAB sort
sort( ) command or function arranges vector or matrix or array elements in ascending order, after reading…


MATLAB Reshape
reshape() command or function reshapes a matrix or vector, after reading this MATLAB Reshape topic,…


MATLAB median
median( ) command or function gives the median value of vector or matrix or array elements,…