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08 - MATLAB - Functions

A function is a block of code that performs a specific task and can accept input arguments and return output arguments. In MATLAB, functions are defined in separate files with the same name as the function. Functions operate in their own workspace separate from the base workspace. There are several types of functions in MATLAB including anonymous functions, primary/sub-functions, nested functions, and private functions. Global variables can be used to share data between functions.

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Kingsley chigozie Eneh
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31 views

08 - MATLAB - Functions

A function is a block of code that performs a specific task and can accept input arguments and return output arguments. In MATLAB, functions are defined in separate files with the same name as the function. Functions operate in their own workspace separate from the base workspace. There are several types of functions in MATLAB including anonymous functions, primary/sub-functions, nested functions, and private functions. Global variables can be used to share data between functions.

Uploaded by

Kingsley chigozie Eneh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MATLAB - Functions

A function is a group of statements that together perform a task. In MATLAB, functions


are defined in separate files. The name of the file and of the function should be the
same.
Functions operate on variables within their own workspace, which is also called
the local workspace, separate from the workspace you access at the MATLAB
command prompt which is called the base workspace.
Functions can accept more than one input arguments and may return more than one
output arguments.
Syntax of a function statement is −
function [out1,out2, ..., outN] = myfun(in1,in2,in3, ..., inN)
Example
The following function named mymax should be written in a file named mymax.m. It
takes five numbers as argument and returns the maximum of the numbers.
Create a function file, named mymax.m and type the following code in it −
function max = mymax(n1, n2, n3, n4, n5)

%This function calculates the maximum of the


% five numbers given as input
max = n1;
if(n2 > max)
max = n2;
end
if(n3 > max)
max = n3;
end
if(n4 > max)
max = n4;
end
if(n5 > max)
max = n5;
end
The first line of a function starts with the keyword function. It gives the name of the
function and order of arguments. In our example, the mymax function has five input
arguments and one output argument.
The comment lines that come right after the function statement provide the help text.
These lines are printed when you type −
help mymax
MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −
This function calculates the maximum of the
five numbers given as input
You can call the function as −
mymax(34, 78, 89, 23, 11)
MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −
ans = 89
Anonymous Functions
An anonymous function is like an inline function in traditional programming languages,
defined within a single MATLAB statement. It consists of a single MATLAB expression
and any number of input and output arguments.
You can define an anonymous function right at the MATLAB command line or within a
function or script.
This way you can create simple functions without having to create a file for them.
The syntax for creating an anonymous function from an expression is
f = @(arglist)expression
Example
In this example, we will write an anonymous function named power, which will take two
numbers as input and return first number raised to the power of the second number.
Create a script file and type the following code in it −
power = @(x, n) x.^n;
result1 = power(7, 3)
result2 = power(49, 0.5)
result3 = power(10, -10)
result4 = power (4.5, 1.5)

When you run the file, it displays −


result1 = 343
result2 = 7
result3 = 1.0000e-10
result4 = 9.5459
Primary and Sub-Functions
Any function other than an anonymous function must be defined within a file. Each
function file contains a required primary function that appears first and any number of
optional sub-functions that comes after the primary function and used by it.
Primary functions can be called from outside of the file that defines them, either from
command line or from other functions, but sub-functions cannot be called from
command line or other functions, outside the function file.
Sub-functions are visible only to the primary function and other sub-functions within
the function file that defines them.
Example
Let us write a function named quadratic that would calculate the roots of a quadratic
equation. The function would take three inputs, the quadratic co-efficient, the linear co-
efficient and the constant term. It would return the roots.
The function file quadratic.m will contain the primary function quadratic and the sub-
function disc, which calculates the discriminant.
Create a function file quadratic.m and type the following code in it −
function [x1,x2] = quadratic(a,b,c)

%this function returns the roots of


% a quadratic equation.
% It takes 3 input arguments
% which are the co-efficients of x2, x and the
%constant term
% It returns the roots
d = disc(a,b,c);
x1 = (-b + d) / (2*a);
x2 = (-b - d) / (2*a);
end % end of quadratic

function dis = disc(a,b,c)


%function calculates the discriminant
dis = sqrt(b^2 - 4*a*c);
end % end of sub-function

You can call the above function from command prompt as −


quadratic(2,4,-4)
MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −
ans = 0.7321
Nested Functions
You can define functions within the body of another function. These are called nested
functions. A nested function contains any or all of the components of any other function.
Nested functions are defined within the scope of another function and they share
access to the containing function's workspace.
A nested function follows the following syntax −
function x = A(p1, p2)
...
B(p2)
function y = B(p3)
...
end
...
end
Example
Let us rewrite the function quadratic, from previous example, however, this time the
disc function will be a nested function.
Create a function file quadratic2.m and type the following code in it −
function [x1,x2] = quadratic2(a,b,c)
function disc % nested function
d = sqrt(b^2 - 4*a*c);
end % end of function disc

disc;
x1 = (-b + d) / (2*a);
x2 = (-b - d) / (2*a);
end % end of function quadratic2
You can call the above function from command prompt as −
quadratic2(2,4,-4)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −
ans = 0.73205
Private Functions
A private function is a primary function that is visible only to a limited group of other
functions. If you do not want to expose the implementation of a function(s), you can
create them as private functions.
Private functions reside in subfolders with the special name private.
They are visible only to functions in the parent folder.
Example
Let us rewrite the quadratic function. This time, however, the disc function calculating
the discriminant, will be a private function.
Create a subfolder named private in working directory. Store the following function
file disc.m in it −
function dis = disc(a,b,c)
%function calculates the discriminant
dis = sqrt(b^2 - 4*a*c);
end % end of sub-function
Create a function quadratic3.m in your working directory and type the following code
in it −
function [x1,x2] = quadratic3(a,b,c)

%this function returns the roots of


% a quadratic equation.
% It takes 3 input arguments
% which are the co-efficient of x2, x and the
%constant term
% It returns the roots
d = disc(a,b,c);

x1 = (-b + d) / (2*a);
x2 = (-b - d) / (2*a);
end % end of quadratic3
You can call the above function from command prompt as −
quadratic3(2,4,-4)

MATLAB will execute the above statement and return the following result −
ans = 0.73205
Global Variables
Global variables can be shared by more than one function. For this, you need to
declare the variable as global in all the functions.
If you want to access that variable from the base workspace, then declare the variable
at the command line.
The global declaration must occur before the variable is actually used in a function. It
is a good practice to use capital letters for the names of global variables to distinguish
them from other variables.
Example
Let us create a function file named average.m and type the following code in it −
function avg = average(nums)
global TOTAL
avg = sum(nums)/TOTAL;
end
Create a script file and type the following code in it −
global TOTAL;
TOTAL = 10;
n = [34, 45, 25, 45, 33, 19, 40, 34, 38, 42];
av = average(n)
When you run the file, it will display the following result −
av = 35.500

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