Arithmetic operators in MATLAB - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to add two numbers and store the result in sum.

MATLAB

a = 5;
b = 3;
sum = a [1] b;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A*

B+

C-

D/

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using multiplication * instead of addition.

Using division / instead of addition.

The plus sign + adds two numbers in MATLAB.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to multiply two numbers and store the result in product.

MATLAB

x = 7;
y = 4;
product = x [1] y;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A/

B-

C*

D+

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using addition + instead of multiplication.

Using division / instead of multiplication.

The asterisk * multiplies two numbers in MATLAB.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to correctly divide num1 by num2.

MATLAB

num1 = 10;
num2 = 2;
result = num1 [1] num2;

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A/

B*

C+

D-

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using multiplication * instead of division.

Using subtraction - instead of division.

The forward slash / divides one number by another in MATLAB.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to calculate the remainder when a is divided by b.

MATLAB

a = 17;
b = 5;
remainder = mod([1], [2]);

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aa

Bb

C17

D5

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using the numbers directly instead of variables.

Swapping the order of inputs.

The mod function returns the remainder of division. Use the variables a and b as inputs.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a vector of squares of numbers from 1 to 5.

MATLAB

numbers = 1:5;
squares = numbers [1] [2];

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A.^

B2

C*

D^

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using ^ instead of .^ which causes an error for vectors.

Using multiplication * instead of power operator.

In MATLAB, .^ is the element-wise power operator. To square each element, use .^ 2. The multiplication operator * is not used here.

Practice

1. Which arithmetic operator in MATLAB is used to multiply two numbers?

easy

A. +

B. -

C. *

D. ^

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify multiplication operator

   In MATLAB, the symbol * is used to multiply two numbers.

2. Step 2: Confirm other operators

   + is addition, - is subtraction, and ^ is power.

3. Final Answer:

   * -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Multiplication = * [OK]

Hint: Remember * means multiply in math and MATLAB [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing * with + or -
• Using ^ for multiplication
• Forgetting * is needed for multiply

2. Which of the following is the correct MATLAB syntax using the power operator to calculate 5 raised to the power 3?

easy

A. 5^3

B. 5**3

C. power(5,3)

D. 5^^3

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify power operator syntax

   In MATLAB, the caret symbol ^ is used for powers, so 5^3 is correct.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   5**3 and 5^^3 are invalid syntax. power(5,3) is a function but not an operator.

3. Final Answer:

   5^3 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Power operator = ^ [OK]

Hint: Use ^ for powers, not ** or ^^ [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using ** like other languages
• Typing ^^ by mistake
• Confusing function with operator

3. What is the output of the following MATLAB code?

a = 10; b = 3; c = a / b;

medium

A. 3.3333

B. 3

C. 7

D. 13

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand division operation

   Variable a is 10, b is 3, so c = a / b divides 10 by 3.

2. Step 2: Calculate division result

   10 divided by 3 equals approximately 3.3333 in MATLAB.

3. Final Answer:

   3.3333 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   10 / 3 = 3.3333 [OK]

Hint: Division gives decimal result unless integers used carefully [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Rounding to 3
• Adding instead of dividing
• Confusing division with subtraction

4. Find the error in this MATLAB expression:

result = 4 + * 5;

medium

A. Wrong operator for addition

B. Missing operand before *

C. Extra semicolon

D. No error

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the expression syntax

   The expression 4 + * 5 has two operators + and * without a number between them.

2. Step 2: Identify missing operand

   There should be a number between + and *, but it is missing, causing a syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing operand before * -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Operators need numbers between them [OK]

Hint: Operators must have numbers on both sides [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Leaving out numbers between operators
• Thinking semicolon causes error
• Using wrong operator symbols

5. You want to calculate the expression (2 + 3) ^ 2 - 4 * 5 in MATLAB. Which code correctly computes this?

hard

A. 2 + (3 ^ 2 - 4) * 5

B. 2 + 3 ^ 2 - 4 * 5

C. (2 + 3) ^ (2 - 4) * 5

D. (2 + 3) ^ 2 - 4 * 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand operator precedence and parentheses

   The expression (2 + 3) ^ 2 - 4 * 5 means add 2 and 3 first, then square, then subtract 4 times 5.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   (2 + 3) ^ 2 - 4 * 5 matches the original expression exactly. Others change order or grouping, giving different results.

3. Final Answer:

   (2 + 3) ^ 2 - 4 * 5 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use parentheses to keep order correct [OK]

Hint: Use parentheses to control math order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring parentheses
• Changing operator order
• Misplacing powers or multiplication