Mastering MATLAB 6 [Paperback]

Duane Hanselman (Author), Bruce R. Littlefield (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130194689 | ISBN-13: 978-0130194688 | Publication Date: December 14, 2000 | Edition: United States ed

This easy-to-follow book covers all essential aspects and new features of MATLAB Version 6. Thorough coverage of indexing, vectorizing, and linear algebra are included. Covers integration of MATLAB with C, FORTRAN, and Java. Extensive index has been revised. Ideal as an introduction or as a reference to MATLAB.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This easy-to-follow book covers all essential aspects and new features of MATLAB Version 6. Thorough coverage of indexing, vectorizing, and linear algebra are included. Covers integration of MATLAB with C, FORTRAN, and Java. Extensive index has been revised. Ideal as an introduction or as a reference to MATLAB.

Product Details

• Paperback: 832 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; United States ed edition (December 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130194689
• ISBN-13: 978-0130194688
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Materful Book, July 21, 2001

By 

Steven Marks "Prog Harpo" (Petaluma, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering MATLAB 6 (Paperback)

I am going to also write a review on "Matlab Guide", I will be also comparing the two books in the reviews.

If you are considering Matlab as a scientific computing language - look no more. It has licensened the "Maple Kernal" as part of its "Math Symbolic ToolBox", it uses LAPAK from FORTRAN for the algorithms for Matrix operations; it uses a high level language (very C++ like) and its own consise syntax for matrix manipulations as well as "Handle Graphics" to produce impressive looking plots and reports. In otherwords, it combines the best of various approaches. If you do not know C++, I advise that learn that first before attempting to learn Matlab.

Comparing "Mastering Matlab 6" (MM6) to "Matlab Guide" (MG):

*Both books are NOT for absolute Beginners, I think the assumption is that you will first study the book that comes with Matlab and the supurb "Help" Documentation that comes with the program. There are also good starting out tutorials on the net - search: "Matlab; Tutorial". The US Navy has a consise tutorial to get you started.

*MM6 does a better job on teaching to the next level beyond the Mathworks supplied documentation and beggining Tutorials.

*MM6 WINS HANDSDOWN ON TEACHING version new to 6.0 specific features. You are short changing yourself by going for a 5.0 text.

*MM6 is geared more towards a programmer/scientist/engineer; whereas, MG is geared to a mathematician. MM6 is comprehensive (800 pages!), but well organized that you can branch off to a given chapter without covering all prior chapters. Because I had a problem to solve, I started on Chapter 18, "Interpolation" without any problems. If you have no immediate issue - taking the book in order is advised. BUT THE BOOK IS WELL CROSS-REFERENCED THAT you can jump ahead to a topc of interest.

**MM6 is real modern: There are 4 chapters (out of 28) that delve into the Object Oriented aspects of Matlab, interfacing to C or Fortran, Extending Matlab with Java and integrating Matlab with Windows using Active X. 7 Chapters are devoted to Graphics, Interface, Movies. 9 Chapters are devoted to Topics that a modern Scientist or Engineer would need to know to take advantage of Matlab: ODEs, Optimization, Fourier Analysis. MM6 covers the topics in detail. Other chapters really get down to the nitty gritty of the Matlab programming language.

I believe that MM6 is ideal for an Engineer/Scientist who is looking for a book to take him or her from the Apprentice to a Journeyman level in Matlab. Beyond that, the books would have to become more specialty (Chem E, Controls,...) orientated. This will get you to the plane where you can then focus on your specialty.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good overview and introduction to MATLAB, August 17, 2002

By 

Clovis Bonavides "csb58" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering MATLAB 6 (Paperback)

This book is well written, well laid-out, well programmed and will be useful to anyone either as an introduction, as a reference or as a learning guide companion to ML. It tries to be as general as possible - with concise but very clear text - and still manages to illustrate with good code examples most of the material it covers, which is quite extensive. You won't be left with a single major feature or important language instruction of ML left uncovered.

I am familiar so far with the books 'Advanced Engineering Mathematics with ML' by Haman et al and 'An Engineer's Guide to ML' by Magrab et al. Both are excellent books and these 3 texts complement themselves in many ways. But if I had to have a single ML book, I would prefer this one without a doubt.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T GET THIS BOOK!!, February 14, 2002

By 

Lance Williams (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering MATLAB 6 (Paperback)

the engineer's guide to matlab is MUCH BETTER!! there are no good examples showing how to fully utilize each function. the book is very basic and probably covers only about 1% of the full capabilities of matlab. after using this book i was no better prepared to handle any homework problem than if hadn't used the book!! i am extremely disappointed!!