Help running a while loop?

I am trying to run a "while loop" from t = 1 second to t = 1000 seconds. I have set up the following code, but when I hit run, nothing happens but I don't get any errors.

In the loop, I have the slope of the function dA(t), which I want to recalculate each iteration. The goal is to plot the populations A(t) each iteration. Please help?

%Part A: Solve a given decay scheme using Euler's basic method with a time
%step of 0.1 seconds from 0 to 1000 seconds. Plot all populations.

A(1) = 1E10;
t = 1:1001;
dt = 0.1;
while t<=1000
  dA(t) = -0.005.*A(t);
  A(t)=A(t)+dA(t).*dt;
  plot(t,A(t),'bo')  
  t = t+1;
end

[dpb]

t = 1:1001;
...
while t<=1000
  ...

reread the documentation on the definition of expression in a while loop construct and then keep reading including the "Tips" section (I'll grant at least some that information should be in the main help section, not as it is in what appears to be less important material).

Answer 1

[Chinmay Anand]

A(1) = 1E10;
t = 1;
dt = 0.1;

while t<=1000
  dA(t) = -0.005*A(t);
  A(t+1)=A(t)+dA(t)*dt;
  plot(t,A(t),'bo')
  hold on
  t = t+1;
end

hold off

I think you need to look into the documentation for while loop. You are declaring t as a vector instead of a value. Also

dA(t) = -0.005*A(t);    % if A(t) is updated with A(t) and dA(t) alone then both vectors should be predefined.
A(t+1)=A(t)+dA(t)*dt;   % So i think you will need A(t-1) to update A(t) or A(t) to update A(t+1)

Also use hold on and hold off to plot points on the same plot.

Answer 2

[Jan]

Use a for loop if the number of steps is known in advance:

A(1) = 1E10;
dt = 0.1;
for t = 1:1001
  dA(t) = -0.005 * A(t);
  A(t)  = A(t) + dA(t) * dt;
end
Time = (1:1001) * dt;
plot(Time, A, 'bo')