I have two matrices the same size 'F1result' and 'F2result'. I need to compare them element by element and create a new matrices 'F' with whichever value is greater.

[M,N] = size(MagGridForceAX); % Establish dimensions for row and column loop counters
for i = 1:M
    for j = 1:N
        % Creates coefficients for the simultaneous equations of F1 and F2
        % based on sum of x and sum of y forces equalling zero
        CoefficientMatrix = [MagGridForceAX(i,j) MagGridForceBX(i,j); MagGridForceAY(i,j) MagGridForceBY(i,j)];
        % Forces Matrix solving for forces in beams in each x and y
        % coordinate
        ForcesMatrix = CoefficientMatrix\P;
        F1result(i,j) = ForcesMatrix(1);
        F2result(i,j) = ForcesMatrix(2);
    end
end

Answer 1

[dpb]

F=max(F1,F2);

Answer 2

[William Rose]

@Sean Flanagan,

F1res=rand(3,3), F2res=rand(3,3)

F1res = 3×3

0.2365 0.9271 0.3496 0.0122 0.3467 0.8742 0.3531 0.4970 0.5388

F2res = 3×3

0.9900 0.9559 0.2499 0.7560 0.2592 0.8225 0.5928 0.6783 0.7452

Fmaxres=max(F1res,F2res)

Fmaxres = 3×3

0.9900 0.9559 0.3496 0.7560 0.3467 0.8742 0.5928 0.6783 0.7452

It works.

[Sean Flanagan]

Thanks dpb and William,

My F2 values are all negative vectors representing beams under compression. Matlab selects all the F1 values as maximum due to F2 being negative. Is there a way to ignore the negative sign in the values so matlab picks the larger of the 2 numbers based on the numerical size not based on the negative signs?

[Image Analyst]

There is a handy function you should learn about: abs

Fmaxres = max(abs(F1res), abs(F2res))

[dpb]

I wondered about that, but didn't ask...bur, sure.

F=max(abs(F1),abs(F2));

If you need to track the sign of the original in the result, then you'll need a corollary variable...

ix=(abs(F2)>abs(F1));       % logical of which compression > tension
F=max(abs(F1),abs(F2));     % pick the larger magnitude
F(ix)=-F(ix);               % restore the negative (if needed)

[Sean Flanagan]

Thanks Image Analyst

[Sean Flanagan]

Thanks DB for the help with this. I needed to restore the negative.