Lecture 11 - Functions

MATLAB
Function
Functions
• Functions describe subprograms

–Take inputs, generate outputs
–Have local variables (invisible in global workspace)
• Core MATLAB (Built-in) Functions

–sin, abs, exp, ...
Can’t be displayed on screen
• MATLAB-supplied M-file Functions

–mean, linspace, …
Ca be displayed on screen
• User-created M-file Functions

Core MATLAB (Built-in) Functions
• Elementary built-in functions

• >> help elfun % a list of these functions
sin % Sine.
exp % Exponential.
abs % Absolute value.
round % Round towards nearest integer.
• Special Math functions
• >> help specfun
lcm % Least common multiple.
cart2sph % Transform Cartesian to spherical
% coordinates.
• Special functions - toolboxes

• Each toolbox has a list of special functions that you can use
Function Is an Independent Piece of
Code Which Performs a Task
Function (subroutine, method,

procedure, or subprogram) –
is a portion of code within a
larger program,
which performs a specific task
and
can be relatively independent
of the remaining code.
One M-file, One Task, One Workspace

4
Variables - The Data Objects,
Functions Are The Actions
Input (Object / Data):
X = 80 90 95 100 98 88 92
Functions:
y = mean(x) y = sum(x) y = max(x)

Output:
(Data)
91.85 643 100
5
A Function Is a Black Box
Output function Input
A function is a black box

It hides the code and its workspace and
communicates with the “world” using
the input and output variables
6
Functions M file structure
The file is a Matlab function

The output variables (if there are few use []: [out1 out2] )
Should be same as the name of the file
sumTwoNums.m:
function my_sum = sumTwoNums(a,b)
my_sum = a+b;
Assign the output variables The input variables

(else - Matlab will give an error)
7
Functions Documentation and Variable
Verification
% SUMTWONUMS sum to scalars First line
help: % this function sums two scalar
% and returns the result
Usage % INPUT:
% a - the first scalar
Input % b - the second scalar
%
Output % OUTPUT:
% my_sum - the sum of a and b; sum = a+b
Examples
if (~isscalar(a))
Testing for error('First argument is not a scalar');
proper end
if (~isscalar(b))
variables error('Second argument is not a scalar');
end
8 Calculations and Output assignment
my_sum = a+b;
Each Instance of A Function Run Has
Its Own Workspace
Assume we wrote the function:
my_sum = a + b;
In the workspace we run: Matlab Function

Workspace:
a = 1; Workspace:
b = 2; a=3
x = 3; a=1
y = 4; b=4
s = sumTwoNums(x, y) b=2
 my_sum = 7
What is the output? x=3
s = 7
y=4
9
s=7
Structure of a Function M-file
Keyword: function Function Name (same as file name .m)
Output Argument(s) Input Argument(s)
function y = mean(x)
% MEAN Average or mean value.
% For vectors, MEAN(x) returns the mean value.
Online Help
% For matrices, MEAN(x) is a row vector
% containing the mean value of each column.
[m,n] = size(x);
if m == 1
MATLAB
Code m = n;
end
y = sum(x)/m;
»output_value = mean(input_value) Command Line Syntax

Workspaces in MATLAB
• MATLAB (or Base) Workspace:
– For command line and script file variables.
• Function Workspaces:
– Each function has its own workspace for local variables.
– Name of Input/output variables can be either equal or different
then the variable name in the calling workspace.
– Communicate to Function Workspace via inputs & outputs.
• Global Workspace:
Global variables can be shared by multiple workspaces.
(Must be initialized in all relevant workspaces.)
Initialize global variables in all relevant workspaces:

»global variable_name
Initialize global variables in the “source” workspace before referring to them
from other workspaces.
Tips for using Global Variables
• DON’T USE THEM
• If you absolutely must use them:

– Avoid name conflicts
>>whos global %shows the contents of the global
workspace
>>clear global %erases the variable from both local
and global workspaces.
Visual Debugging
Select
Workspace
Set Auto-
Breakpoints
Set Breakpoint
Clear Breaks
Step In
Single Step
Continue
Quit Debugging
Example: Visual Debugging (2)
• Editor/Debugger opens the relevant file and identifies the
line where the error occurred.
Current
Current
Location
Workspace
(Function)
Example: Visual Debugging (3)
Error message
Access to
Function’s
Debug Workspace
Mode
Problem
• Write a function that asks for a temperature (in degrees

Fahrenheit)
• computes the equivalent temperature in degrees Celcius.
• The function should give an error massage in case no
number is provided to convert.
• use nargin.
Solution
function TinC=temp2(TinF)
TinF = input('Temperature in F: '); % get input
if nargin==0 % if there is no input
disp('no temparture was entered');
TinC=nan;
else
TinC = 5*(TinF - 32)/9; % conversion
disp(' ')
disp([' ==> Temperature in C = ',num2str(TinC)])
disp(' ')
end

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MATLAB

• Functions describe subprograms

• Core MATLAB (Built-in) Functions

• MATLAB-supplied M-file Functions

• User-created M-file Functions

• Elementary built-in functions

• Special functions - toolboxes

Function (subroutine, method,

One M-file, One Task, One Workspace

y = mean(x) y = sum(x) y = max(x)

Output function Input

A function is a black box

The file is a Matlab function

Assign the output variables The input variables

In the workspace we run: Matlab Function

»output_value = mean(input_value) Command Line Syntax

Initialize global variables in all relevant workspaces:

• DON’T USE THEM

• If you absolutely must use them:

• Write a function that asks for a temperature (in degrees

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