Implementing Bisection Method in Matlab: Troubleshooting Error Message

[renolovexoxo]

Here is the code I have, but I keep getting the error message: Undefined function 'f' for input arguments of type 'double'.

I don't know what I have that is causing this. Does anybody see what's wrong with my code?

MaxIt = 1000;
epsilon = 10^-5;
a=1;
b=2;
c = (b+a)/2;
NumIt = 0;
while NumIt< MaxIt && abs(f(c))>epsilon
if f(a)*f(c) < 0
b = c;
else
a = c;
end
NumIt = NumIt + 1;
c = (b+a)/2;
end
end
function y = f(x)
y = exp(x)-2^-x+2*cos(x)-6;
end
Undefined function 'f' for input arguments of type 'double'.

 

[D H]

As written, you would need to store your function f(x) in a separate Matlab file named f.m. You can't have local functions in a Matlab script file. You can have local functions in a Matlab function file, so one way to avoid having a separate file for that tiny function is to turn your script into a Matlab function.

This is such a short and simple function that may not even want to do that. Another option is to use an anonymous function instead. Define f(x) via f = @(x) exp(x)-2^-x+2*cos(x)-6; You'll need to put this near the top of your script rather than at the bottom.

 

[renolovexoxo]

Okay, that worked great! Thank you.

Last question, just because I have a hard time in Matlab.
When I'm looking at the solution, do I want to display c or f(c) to get the root? It would be c, correct?

 

[D H]

c, of course. f(c) will be close to zero -- in this case. Try this, however:

• Change MaxIt to 1024 or so (adjust downward if you get divide by zero).
• Change the initial value of a from +1 to -1.
• Change your function to f = @(x) 1/x;

It's worthwhile to print either f(c) or NumIt (or both) to see if the algorithm truly did converge on a zero.