How to compute word scores in Scrabble using MATLAB

Question

I have a homework program I have run into a problem with. We basically have to take a word (such as MATLAB) and have the function give us the correct score value for it usi

Answer 1

Convert from string to ASCII:

>> myString = 'hello, world';
>> ASCII = double(myString)

ASCII =

   104   101   108   108   111    44    32   119   111   114   108   100

Sum up the values:

>> total = sum(ASCII)

total =

        1160

The MATLAB help for char() says (emphasis added):

S = char(X) converts array X of nonnegative integer codes into a character array. Valid codes range from 0 to 65535, where codes 0 through 127 correspond to 7-bit ASCII characters. The characters that MATLAB® can process (other than 7-bit ASCII characters) depend upon your current locale setting. To convert characters into a numeric array, use the double function.

ASCII chart here.