Defining function handles in MATLAB

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How might I define a function handle?
For example, I want to define a function f(x)=2*x^3+7*x^2+x
I want MATLAB to evaluate f(x) at random values x. I have heard of feval and fhandles, but I don't know how to do it.
Thanks.
  2 Comments
Leia Sofia Mendez
Leia Sofia Mendez on 26 Jul 2017
Edited: Walter Roberson on 26 Jul 2017
This was the code I was trying to write:
a= 0.0009
a= convtime([1],'samples','seconds')
This code gave an error saying that my function (convtime) was undefined. How you define a function in MATLAB?
Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 26 Jul 2017
Leia Sofia Mendez:
You should go to that link, and click the download button, and download the .zip file. You should unzip to a directory that is not under your MATLAB installation directory. You would then use pathtool in MATLAB to add that directory to your MATLAB path.

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Accepted Answer

Chandra Kurniawan
Chandra Kurniawan on 8 Jan 2012
Edited: MathWorks Support Team on 22 May 2019
Hi, Richard.
To evaluate f(x) at different values of x, you can create an .m file and write this code:
function y = f(x)
y = 2 * (x^3) + 7 * (x^2) + x;
If you save the file under the name 'f.m', you can run the function by typing this code in the Command Window or a separate .m file.
x = randi(7);
y = f(x)
The randi function above generates a 1-by-5 row vector of random integers between 1 and 10. The values returned by f are stored in a 1-by-5 row vector y.
For more information about creating functions, see:
You can create a handle to the function f with an @ sign. For example, create a handle named myHandle as follows:
myHandle = @f;
Now you can run f indirectly by using its handle.
y = myHandle(x)
For more information about function handles, see:
  5 Comments
Piyush Gade
Piyush Gade on 4 Feb 2022
Whatever this is, this doesn't work.
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson on 11 Oct 2022
I recommend clicking 'Getting Started.'

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More Answers (6)

Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 8 Jan 2012
Function handle version:
f = @(x) 2*x^3+7*x^2+x;
Then f is already the function handle, and you can call f(3.7) (for example)
There is no need to use feval() for this, but you could.
  1 Comment
Salaheddin Hosseinzadeh
Salaheddin Hosseinzadeh on 13 Mar 2014
I rather this anonymous way of defining a function! It's way easier. I also know another way of doing this, surprisingly nobudy mentioned that so far! lol I'm gonna put it in the answers.

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Junaid
Junaid on 8 Jan 2012
Dear Richard,
To define a function in matlab you can do following syntax of given function:
function n = F(x)
n= 2*x^3+7*x^2+x;
that is it. You can put end at the end of function. But it is also acceptable not to put to various matlab versions. If you put end for one function then you have to put for all function in single m file.
then you can generate random numbers, either integer or double, and can get the values of this function.

cyril
cyril on 21 Mar 2014
Edited: cyril on 21 Mar 2014
> f = @(x) 2*x^3+7*x^2+x;
> f(0)
0
surprising no one mentioned anonymous functions...
  1 Comment
Salaheddin Hosseinzadeh
Salaheddin Hosseinzadeh on 21 Mar 2014
@ Cyril
Walter did, just make sure you checked the other answers and comments!

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samy youssef
samy youssef on 11 Mar 2015
Edited: Walter Roberson on 26 Sep 2016
here is a function i developed to calculate the log of any number with different base:
function d =log_for_diff_base(myNumber,myBase)
x=log(myNumber);
y=log(myBase);
d=x/y;
end

Nikitha Challa
Nikitha Challa on 26 Sep 2016
x = x + a/x 2 in matlab code
  2 Comments
John D'Errico
John D'Errico on 26 Sep 2016
Edited: John D'Errico on 26 Sep 2016
Not a function at all. This is not even valid MATLAB code as written.
Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 26 Sep 2016
That does not appear to be a question, and it is not an Answer to what was asked here?
If the question is to solve the equation
x == x + a/(x^2)
then for finite a values, the solutions are -inf and +inf as a/(x^2) would be 0 for those values, leading to the equality -inf == -inf and +inf == +inf

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Karima Benkhlil
Karima Benkhlil on 4 Feb 2023
f(x) = exp(x^2 ) (x3+4x+1) how to define it

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