# Matlab for loop indexing confusion

Homework Statement:
Code euler method for solving ODE in matlab
Relevant Equations:
test case given: y0=10, f=@(t,y) -0.5*y
The test case for the block of code below is:
y0=10,
f=@(t,y) -0.5*y,
[t,y]=euler_method_attempt(f,0,5,y0,10)

This code below works and is the correct answer, but I am confused on some parts of it. When indexing the for loop it seems as if the first output for "y" would be y(2), not y(1). And as far as the math goes I think y(2)=7.5.
I also don't understand why we wouldn't write something like:
for i=0:length(t)...
So how does MATLAB access the first element of "y"?

Thanks so much!

Matlab:
function [t,y]=euler_method_attempt(f,t0,tf,y0,n)
t=linspace(t0,tf,n+1);
dt=t(2)-t(1);
y=[y0,zeros(1,n)];

for i=1:length(t)-1
y(i+1) = f(t(i),y(i)).*dt +y(i);
end

end

Gold Member
y(1) is what in the code is called 'y0' (line 4) and it is the boundary condition that you have to supply in order to solve the ODE, so you don't calculate it: it's given.

In MATLAB you access vectors with y(i) with i running from 1 to the total number of elements.
y(0) is not accepted, so
why we wouldn't write something like:
for i=0:length(t)...
is wrong because you have to start from 1.

Moreover in your for loop you are using the variable y(i+1) so you cannot stop at i = length(t) because in the loop you will have y(n+1+1) = y(n+2) which is outside the range of the vector you earlier defined.

sumairaanwar and hdp12