How to perform mathematical operation between all elements of arrays with unequal numbers

4 views (last 30 days)
I have two arrays A & B, being a nXm and a pXq array, repsctively. I want to take A(i,j) and multiply it in or subtract it from all elements of B. Then I will take the next element of A and so on. is it possible to do without using a loop on all elements?

Accepted Answer

John D'Errico
John D'Errico on 24 May 2019
Edited: John D'Errico on 24 May 2019
A = rand(2,3);
B = rand(4,5);
C = A + reshape(B,[1,1,size(B)]); % Addition
C = A - reshape(B,[1,1,size(B)]); % subtraction
size(C)
ans =
2 3 4 5
D = A .* reshape(B,[1,1,size(B)]); % multiplication
D = A ./ reshape(B,[1,1,size(B)]); % division
size(D)
ans =
2 3 4 5
This is possible as long as you have MATLAB release 2016b or later. Earlier releases will need to use bsxfun instead.
help bsxfun
Note that you use .* and ./ for elementwise multiplication/division, not the * or / operators.

More Answers (1)

Matt J
Matt J on 24 May 2019
Edited: Matt J on 24 May 2019
Here is how you would do the subtraction
A-reshape(B,1,1,p,q) %result is nXmXpxq
but it will work equally well with any other operation that supports implicit expansion.

Community Treasure Hunt

Find the treasures in MATLAB Central and discover how the community can help you!

Start Hunting!