Getting only first component from vector/matrix output

I'm using ode45 to solve a second-order IVP and want to use deval to evaluate the solution.

Since the equation was second-order, the solution vector has two components. I am wondering if there's an easy way to just get only the first component without having to assign deval's output to a temporary variable first?

I would've expected syntax like (deval(sol,x))(1) to work but it doesn't.

The same question applies not just to deval, but to any function which returns a vector/matrix.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

subsref(deval(sol,x),struct('type','()','subs',1))

If you are doing this multiple times, then just use (e.g.,)

first = @(x) x(1);

first(deval(sol,x))

Answer 2

[Sean de Wolski]

No. MATLAB does not support cascading indexing (except for in structures; which wouldn't be applicable here).

[Positronized]

Yes, I realised this, but I was just wondering if there's a trick one can play to achieve the same effect.

[Sean de Wolski]

You can use Walter's function handle, that will do it in one line. The temporary variable will still have to be created; however, in addition to the creation of the function handle and the call to it. What's so bad about having to return a temp variable?

[Positronized]

Nothing in general, it's just that I was trying to hack together a quick 1-line function handle without creating an M-file. I'll accept Walter's answer.