Help system and documentation in MATLAB - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to display help for the function plot.

MATLAB

help [1]

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

Aaxis

Bfigure

Cplot

Dtitle

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a command that is not a function name after help.

Forgetting to type the function name after help.

The help command followed by a function name shows its documentation. Here, help plot displays help for the plot function.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to open the documentation page for the sum function.

MATLAB

doc [1]

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

Asum

Bmean

Cmax

Dmin

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Typing a function name different from the one intended.

Using help instead of doc when the graphical documentation is needed.

The doc command opens the detailed documentation page for the specified function. Here, doc sum opens the documentation for the sum function.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to display help for the mean function.

MATLAB

help [1]

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

AMean

BmeAn

CMEAN

Dmean

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using uppercase or mixed case letters in the function name.

Forgetting that MATLAB is case-sensitive for help commands.

MATLAB function names are case-sensitive in the help command. The correct lowercase mean shows the help text.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a custom help comment block for a function named myFunc with a description line.

MATLAB

% [1] - [2]
function output = myFunc(input)
% Your code here
end

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

AmyFunc

BCalculates the sum

CComputes the average

Dinput

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Putting the description before the function name.

Using variable names instead of the function name in the comment.

The first line of a MATLAB function help block starts with the function name, followed by a hyphen and a short description. Here, % myFunc - Calculates the sum is correct.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to write a help comment block with function name calcArea, description Calculates area of a circle, and input description radius of the circle.

MATLAB

% [1] - [2]
% Input:
%   [3]
function area = calcArea(r)
area = pi * r^2;
end

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

AcalcArea

BCalculates area of a circle

Cradius of the circle

Dcircle radius

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up the order of function name and description.

Using incorrect input variable names in the comment.

The first line is the function name and description. The input description follows with the input variable name and explanation. This helps users understand the function and its inputs.

Practice

1. What does the help command do in MATLAB?

easy

A. Shows a short explanation of a function in the command window

B. Opens a detailed graphical documentation page

C. Runs the function with default parameters

D. Edits the function's source code

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of help

   The help command is designed to show a brief explanation or summary of a MATLAB function directly in the command window.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   doc opens detailed documentation, running or editing functions is unrelated to help.

3. Final Answer:

   Shows a short explanation of a function in the command window -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   help shows short explanation [OK]

Hint: Remember: help = quick info in command window [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing help with doc
• Thinking help runs the function
• Assuming help edits code

2. Which of the following is the correct way to open detailed documentation for the function plot?

easy

A. open plot

B. help plot

C. doc plot

D. run plot

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the command for detailed documentation

   The doc command opens the detailed documentation page with examples and explanations.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   help shows short info, open and run are not used for documentation.

3. Final Answer:

   doc plot -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   doc opens detailed docs [OK]

Hint: Use doc for detailed help with examples [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using help instead of doc for detailed info
• Trying to use open or run commands
• Forgetting to type the function name after doc

3. What will be the output of the command help sum in MATLAB?

medium

A. It will execute the sum function on the current workspace variables

B. It will display a brief description of the sum function in the command window

C. It will open the full documentation page for sum in a separate window

D. It will show an error because help cannot be used with sum

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what help sum does

   The help command shows a short explanation of the specified function, here sum, in the command window.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect options

   doc opens full docs, help does not execute functions or cause errors for built-in functions.

3. Final Answer:

   It will display a brief description of the sum function in the command window -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   help shows brief info [OK]

Hint: help shows short info, doc shows full docs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing help with doc
• Expecting help to run the function
• Thinking help causes errors for built-in functions

4. You typed helpplot in MATLAB but got an error. What is the likely problem?

medium

A. You forgot to put a space between help and the function name

B. The help command does not work for plotting functions

C. You need to use docplot instead

D. The function plot does not exist in MATLAB

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the command helpplot

   This is a single word, so MATLAB looks for a function named helpplot, which does not exist.

2. Step 2: Correct usage of help

   The correct syntax is help plot with a space to ask for help on the plot function.

3. Final Answer:

   You forgot to put a space between help and the function name -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use space after help [OK]

Hint: Always put space between help and function name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Typing help and function name without space
• Assuming help doesn't work for plot
• Trying docplot instead of doc plot

5. You want to learn how to use the fft function with examples and detailed explanations. Which command should you use and why?

hard

A. Use edit fft to read the source code and understand usage

B. Use help fft because it shows detailed examples

C. Use run fft to execute the function and see results

D. Use doc fft because it opens full documentation with examples

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the need for detailed explanations and examples

   Detailed explanations and examples are found in the full documentation, not in the short help text.

2. Step 2: Choose the correct command

   doc fft opens the full documentation page with examples, while help fft shows only brief info.

3. Step 3: Understand why other options are incorrect

   run fft executes the function, edit fft opens source code which may not be helpful for beginners.

4. Final Answer:

   Use doc fft because it opens full documentation with examples -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   doc = detailed docs with examples [OK]

Hint: Use doc for full docs and examples, help for quick info [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using help expecting detailed examples
• Trying to run function to learn usage
• Editing source code instead of reading docs