Matlab on Ubuntu 14.04

I am downloading matlab onto my new computer and keep getting an error message with the folder selection part. I want to use default /usr/local/MATLAB/R2016a but every time I click next it pops up with a message "Failed to create folder..."

Answer 1

[Steven Lord]

Does that folder exist already?

Do you have write permission to that folder?

[LM]

I figured it out. I had to use the gksu command because sudo wasn't working.

Answer 2

[Todd Leonhardt]

On Ubuntu you need sudo privileges to write to /usr. So either preface the install script with sudo or install to a directory within your home directory.

NOTE: If you are using a per-user license, it may be a good idea to install in your home directory anyways. But if you are using a node-locked license, then you really should use sudo (or get someone with that permission to do so), to install in the default location.

[LM]

I figured it out! The sudo command wasn't working, I should have mentioned that in my question, I had to use the gksu command. Apparently this is a fairly common problem.