What is the syntax error in this?

% This program calculates the amount of pasta to cook, given the number of people eating.
Author: Ettore Boyardee

numPeople = 2    // numPeople: Number of people that will be eating

totalOuncesPasta = numPeople * 3;    % Calculate and print total ounces of pasta
                                      Typical: 3 ounces per person %

[Aqila]

the symtax 5p^3 give an error in matlab please select the option that is correct for this error

1). 5*.p^3

2). 5*p^3

3). 5p.^3

4). 5multiply p^3

[Torsten]

@Aqila

https://matlabacademy.mathworks.com/details/matlab-onramp/gettingstarted

[Walter Roberson]

There are circumstances under which none of those answers are correct.

Answer 1

[James Tursa]

Each comment section on a line needs to start with the % character.

The C/C++ style of commenting with // does not work with MATLAB. Use the % character.

E.g.,

% This program calculates the amount of pasta to cook, given the number of people eating.
% Author: Ettore Boyardee

numPeople = 2;    % numPeople: Number of people that will be eating

totalOuncesPasta = numPeople * 3;    % Calculate and print total ounces of pasta
                                     % Typical: 3 ounces per person %

[Walter Roberson]

Octave permits // comments. If you are using Octave then this is not the proper support resource: the behaviour of Octave is not always the same as MATLAB.

Answer 2

[Jilesh Dilipbhai]

% This program calculates the amount of pasta to cook, given the number of people eating.

% Author: Ettore Boyardee

numPeople = 2; % numPeople: Number of people that will be eating

totalOuncesPasta = numPeople * 3; % Calculate and print total ounces of pasta

% Typical: 3 ounces per person %

[Walter Roberson]

@Jilesh Dilipbhai

How does this differ from the response from James https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/356869-what-is-the-syntax-error-in-this#answer_281724