How to use a vector function in Matlab and Octave

The parameter of a function can also be a vector in Matlab / Octave

Example

Define a vector

>> x = [0, pi/6, pi/4, pi/3, pi/2]

The term pi is the default constant π

Calculate the sine function using the vector x as a parameter

>> sin(x)

The function computes the sine function for each element of vector x and outputs another vector

ans =
0.00000 0.50000 0.70711 0.86603 1.00000

This command is the same as writing the sine function five times

>> sin(0)
ans = 0
>> sin(pi/6)
ans = 0.50000
>> sin(pi/4)
ans = 0.70711
>> sin(pi/3)
ans = 0.86603
>> sin(pi/2)
ans = 1