Error when inputting function.

Hi, I can't figure out why I am getting the error. Here is the function.

 function y=nest(d,c,x,b)
|
Error: Function definitions are not permitted in this context.

And this is the code I am trying to perform in matlab.

%Program 0.1 Nested multiplication %Evaluates polynomial from nested form using Horner’s Method 

%Input: degree d of polynomial, 
% array of d+1 coefficients c (constant term first), 
% % x-coordinate x at which to evaluate, and array of d base points b, if needed 
%Output: value y of polynomial at x

function y=nest(d,c,x,b) 
if nargin<4,
    b=zeros(d,1);
 end 
y=c(d+1); 
for i=d:-1:1 
   y = y.*(x-b(i))+c(i); 
end

RunningthisM atlab fun

Page(s): 3, Numerical Analysis, 2/e by Timothy Sauer, Pearson Education NOOK Study ( , [e-mail]). This material is protected by copyright.

Answer 1

[Jos (10584)]

I assume you did put that code in the editor and saved it as an m-file which you called from the command line (or from a script) and then got the error?

Is the second line ("Horner's method") on a separate line without a comment symbol ("%") in front of it? If so, that is causing the error.

[Truxton]

Hi Jos, What is "the editor"...And I have not been able to find a "save as" option, only "save as workspace". I did have the % symbol infront of the description of the code. When i copy and pasted the code it didn't come out so well in the initial post. So, if I can figure out exactly what the "editor" is, then figure out how to "save as .m"...then im good to go. I have the R2012a student version.

[Jos (10584)]

The editor is the program that you can use in matlab to edit m-files. At the command prompt, type:

>> edit

[Truxton]

Cool! So I just put the function into the editor, then call it in the command window. awesome. Also, from the editor window I found the save as from the file menu. You helped me out soooo much! Thanks. Beleive it or not, im not a total noob with programming...ive taken a class or two, just its been a while.

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

Because you did not call your function, you run it as a m-file. Try this

d=5;
c=1:10;
x=100:200;
out=nest(d,c,x)

[Truxton]

Do you mean I should define the variables in matlab before defining the function?

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

I mean, you can't run a function file as a script file. Save your code

function y=nest(d,c,x,b) 
if nargin<4,
b=zeros(d,1);
end 
y=c(d+1); 
for i=d:-1:1 
y = y.*(x-b(i))+c(i); 
end

as nest.m

Then call your function in Matlab command or from a script file (m-file) like I posted it in my answer

[Truxton]

o.k. I tried to save the code by clicking file, "save workspace as". then I typed nest.m and the same error happened. Am I suppose to save it differently?

[Walter Roberson]

Do not save the workspace, save the code, from the editor.

Also please check all the lines before the "function" line. The "function" line must be the first non-blank non-comment line. If that word "needed" appears on a line of it own, you would have difficulty.

[Truxton]

o.k. cool. How do I "save the code, from the editor"?

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

Don't type "save workspace as", just click save your file as nest.m. Then don not type nest.m but:

d=5;
c=1:10;
x=100:200;
out=nest(d,c,x)

Truxton, I think you should read the basics of Matlab.

[Truxton]

o.k. I will do that for sure. Where do you see "save file"? can't find it. Thanks

[Truxton]

I am looking into the help files for this, and its not helping. It says, to " on the editor tab, in the file selection, click save". But what is "the editor tab"? Not so clear.

[Image Analyst]

You may have an old version - before R2012b with the tabbed ribbon interface. Look for "Save as..." under the File pulldown menu.

[Truxton]

Yes, I have R2012a....I looked in the file, but there isn't a "save as" option.

[Truxton]

it's also the student version.