Array Division

When I entered two arrays,

u = [1 2 3 4];v = [5 6 7 8];

and did the division using,

u/v

I got,

ans = 0.4023.

How to interpret the answer and what's the definition of array division like 'u/v' rather than element-wise 'u./v'?

Thanks.

Answer 1

[C.J. Harris]

Usually u/v is equal to u*inv(v) in matrix terms.

However, since v does not have an inverse Matlab will calculate the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse of v instead. This can also be done directly:

u*pinv(v) = 0.4023

Answer 2

[Malcolm Lidierth]

Were you expecting this?

>> u = [1 2 3 4];v = [5 6 7 8];
>> u./v

ans =

    0.2000    0.3333    0.4286    0.5000

Note the "." in

"./"

Answer 3

[Sean de Wolski]

doc mrdivide

is a good place to start.