What is the difference between a^3 and a.^3 if a is a matrix?

C = magic(3)

D = C.^3;

D_max = max(D(:));

E = C^3

Answer 1

[James Tursa]

E = C^3 is a matrix power, equivalent to E = C*C*C, where these are all matrix multiplies.

D = C.^3 is element-wise power, where D(1,1) = C(1,1)*C(1,1)*C(1,1), etc.