Mathematical symbols in MATLAB
As we have just seen, the simplest mathematical operators are represented by the following symbols.
| Symbol | Operator | Order | Order of Priority |
| ^ | Raise to a power | 1 | evaluated first |
| * | Multiplication | 2 | evaluated after any powers |
| / | Division | 2 | evaluated after any powers |
| + | Addition | 3 | evaluated after any powers, multiplication and division |
| - | Subtraction | 3 | evaluated after any powers, multiplication and division |
Order of Operation
Operation order of Priority
- The power operator has the highest order of priority.
- Multiplication and division both have equal 2nd order of priority.
- Addition and subtraction both have equal 3rd order of priority.
‘Left-to-right’ rule
Expressions are evaluated from left to right: the leftmost operation is performed first and the rightmost operation is performed last. However, note that the operator order of priority supersedes the above left-to-right rule.
Brackets
Round brackets, ( ), can be used to change the order of operations: any expression enclosed in brackets will be calculated first