Error using .^ not enough input arguments

I dont know what i am doing wrong here.

I have a function that is meant to take a single input 'a' and output 'L' however i keep getting this error.

Error using .^

Not enough input arguments.

Error in calc_length (line 11)

L = integral( sqrt(1+{power(dy/dx),2}),x1,x2);

Error in Test (line 1)

z = calc_length(2);

Can someone please advise.

Code:

function [L] = calc_length(a)
%UNTITLED6 Summary of this function goes here
%   Detailed explanation goes here
x1 = -1;
x2 = 1;
dx = 0.1;
x = 1:10;
(x1<=x)&(x<=x2);
y=(power((2.*x),a)+1).*cos((pi.*x)/2);
dy = diff(y);
L = integral( sqrt(1+{power(dy/dx),2}),x1,x2);
end

Answer 1

[Les Beckham]

Perhaps you meant this instead

% L = integral( sqrt(1+{power(dy/dx),2}),x1,x2);
%                      ^              ^ remove the curly braces and move ,2
%                                       inside the parentheses

L = integral(sqrt(1 + power(dy/dx ,2), x1, x2);

Note that this can also be written like this (which explains the mention of .^ in the error message)

L = integral(sqrt(1 + (dy/dx).^2, x1, x2);

[Alexander]

yeah, that worked. thank you

[Les Beckham]

You are quite welcome.