M-file function

Hello!

I am writing an Mfile script that calls a Mfile function to evaluate v(t). v(t) is given as a piecewise function and I have to use if-elseif logic structures for all points of t. My script should use this function and evelop a plot of v versus t for t = -5 to t =50 using a stepize of .25.

When I run my code, I found that my if-elseif logic structures are correct, however I get the message: "Out of memory. The likely cause is an infinite recursion within the program." on line 20 when I attempt to plot my function.

%Part A: Mfile function to compute v as a function of t
function v = vPieceWise(t)
 if (t < 0)
        v = 0;
    elseif (0 <= t)&&(8<=16)
        v = -5*t+10*t.^2;
    elseif (8<=16)&&(t<=16)
        v = 624 - 3*t;
    elseif (t<=16)&&(t<=26)
        v = 12*(t-16).^2+36*t;
    elseif (26<t)
        v = 2136*exp(-0.1*(t-26));
 end 
 %creating window of plot from -5 to 50 using stepsize 0.25 for t x-axis
 %t should be on the x axis, v should be on the y axis
 k=0; 
for i= -5:.25:50
    k = k+1;
    t(k)=i;
    v(k)=vPieceWise(t(k));
end 
plot(t,v);
 
figure
plot(t,v);
hold on   
end 

Answer 1

[Mark Sherstan]

Your function is calling itself without approaching any convergance or something that will allow it to end. Therefore it will run forever and eventually out of memory (hence the error). Try splitting it up into a script and a function as so:

Script:

 %creating window of plot from -5 to 50 using stepsize 0.25 for t x-axis
 %t should be on the x axis, v should be on the y axis
 k=0; 
for i= -5:.25:50
    k = k+1;
    t(k)=i;
    v(k)=vPieceWise(t(k));
end 
plot(t,v);
 
figure
plot(t,v);
hold on   

Function:

%Part A: Mfile function to compute v as a function of t
function v = vPieceWise(t)
 if (t < 0)
        v = 0;
    elseif (0 <= t)&&(8<=16)
        v = -5*t+10*t.^2;
    elseif (8<=16)&&(t<=16)
        v = 624 - 3*t;
    elseif (t<=16)&&(t<=26)
        v = 12*(t-16).^2+36*t;
    elseif (26<t)
        v = 2136*exp(-0.1*(t-26));
 end 

[zoelle wong]

Oooh! Ok thank you so much! That clears up a lot of things. Thank you:)