How to create a random matrix?

I am creating a SVD matrix UEV*. For that I want to create an E matrix with diagonal enteries in the range of [0,1] and also in increasing order. Can someone kindly suggest me a way to do so!

Answer 1

[John D'Errico]

Can you generate a vector of numbers that all lie in the interval [0,1]? (I hope so. read the help for rand.)

Can you insure that vector of numbers lie in increasing order? (Again, I hope so. help sort)

Can you create a diagonal matrix, given a vector? (Again, help diag.)

The point is, when you have a problem that is too big for you to chew on, then break it down into smaller problems. Eat a programming elephant (even a small one) one byte at a time.

[Anshuman]

Great approach! Thanks a lot!

[Anshuman]

I am finding this dissambiguity in answers on taking the (.*) relation or not takin it with the product (*) why this happens?

U = rand(50);
V = rand(50);
d = rand(50,1);
s = sort(d);
e = diag(s);

A1 = U*e*(V)';
A2 = U.*e*(V)';
A3 = U.*e.*(V)';

[Torsten]

All multiplications are pure matrix multiplications *. No room for elementwise multiplication .*

[Anshuman]

Okay thanks for te definitions! Great!