how to describe this matlab function?

Hi guys,

I need your help to describe the following matlab code in a scientific way:

function [y,x]= select1()

x=10*rand(1,7);

m=[3 7];

dif1=abs(m(1)-x);

dif2=abs(m(2)-x);

if (sum(dif1(:)<dif2(:)) > sum(dif1(:)>dif2(:)));

y= m(1);

else

y= m(2);

end

I understand that this function selects m1 if most of x values are closer to m1 than to m2, and selects m2 else, but I am having a hard time describing its steps properly.

Answer 1

[Bjorn Gustavsson]

At the commandline prompt type this:

dbstop in select1

Then call the function from the commandline:

select1

That will open the m-file in the editor, and you can execute the function line-by-line (pushing the green "step"-button), and after each step you can inspect the values of all variables (and plot them with the different (use the 1-D, 2-D plotting functions as you see fit). Then you can figure out what's happening. You will learn at least 2 skills: initial debugging, and algorithm-interpretation.

HTH