How to Use This Handbook The MATLAB Handbook is a complete reference tool for the MATLAB computation language, and is written for all MATLAB users, regardless of their discipline or field(s) of interest. All the built-in mathematical, graphic, and system-based commands avail- able in MATLAB 51 are detailed herein. Overall Organization One of the main premises of The MATLAB Handbook is that most MATLAB users ap- proach the system to solve a particular problem (or set of problems) in a specific subject area. Therefore, all commands are organized in logical subsets that reflect these different categories (e.g., linear equations, ordinary differential equations, sur- face and volume graphics, etc.) and the commands within a subset are explained in a similar language, creating a tool that allows you quick and confident access to the information necessary to complete the problem you have brought to the system. In addition, because there is much information about MATLAB that is very difficult to express on a purely command-by-command basis, each subject is prefaced with an introductory section. Here, detailed examples are given, profiling some of the most common applications of the commands in that particular section. There is also an introductory session, titled MATLAB Quick Start, which is intended to get those readers not already familiar with MATLAB off to a flying start.