How to add vectors in Matlab and Octave

To add two vectors on Matlab and Octave use the operator +

v + w

The terms v and w are two vectors.

Example

Example 1

Define a vector v

>> v=[1;2;3]

Define another vector w

>> w=[4;5;6]

They are two column vectors with three elements.

To add the two vectors write v + w

>> v+w
ans =
5
7
9

The result is the sum vector

Example 2

Define a row vector

>> z=[1 2]
z = 1 2

Define a column vector

>> u=[3;4]
u =
3
4

Add the two vectors z + u

>> z+u

The output result is

ans =
4 5
5 6

Note. In this case the result is a matrix because the sum is between a row vector and a column vector $$ z+u = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 \end{pmatrix} + \begin{pmatrix} 3 \\ 4 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 1+3 & 2+3 \\ 1+4 & 2+4 \end{pmatrix} = \begin{pmatrix} 4 & 5 \\ 5 & 6 \end{pmatrix} $$

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