Des and Nick Higham, enthusiastic MATLAB users since the early 1980s, present a guide covering all that most users will ever need to know about MATLAB. Beginners will find a lively, concise introduction to the most popular and important features of MATLAB and the Symbolic Math Toolbox, with a wealth of instructive examples. Existing MATLAB users will appreciate the explanations of new MATLAB features and the coverage of advanced topics such as Handle Graphics, structures and cell arrays, sparse matrices, profiling, and vectorization. The book's logical organization and detailed index make it an essential reference for both novices and experts alike. The book describes MATLAB 6, but it can also be used with earlier versions.The authors explain many recently added features of MATLAB, including LAPACK-based matrix computations and the latest differential equation solvers, and also reveal many "hidden" features. Readers will benefit from the authors' deep knowledge of MATLAB as well as their expertise in numerical computation. They pass along a wealth of useful tips gained from years of using MATLAB for teaching and research.