How do I write a function that finds the max, min, mean, median, mode, std, var, and count of an array? call it "mystat"

function [min,max,mean,median,mode,var,std] = mystat(x) % Enter in an array and mystat will give the min, max, mean, median, mode, % var, and standard deviation of the array.

mean = mean(x) median = median(x) mode = mode(x) var = var(x) std = std(x) count = length(x) end

For some reason this code doesn't work when I try to call it.

[mbonus]

Does it work if you copy and paste it in the command window?

[Kyle Reagan]

no it doesn't

[mbonus]

See Steven's comment below, I totally forgot about that.

Answer 1

[Steven Lord]

By specifying your output arguments using the same names as the functions that you need to call to compute those outputs, you make it so MATLAB cannot call those functions. [You can't use the same name as a function and as a variable inside a function.] Change the name of the output arguments, or pack all those outputs into a struct array so that the user of your function doesn't need to call it with seven separate outputs (and doesn't need to remember the order in which you defined your function to return those outputs.)

myout = struct;
myout.mean = mean(x); % etc

[Kyle Reagan]

How would I make a structure array for each of these elements? And when I say something like C = mean(x), why does it still not work?

[mbonus]

You will probably have to clear all those functions/variables to restore the functionality, try

clear all or clear mean ...

[Steven Lord]

Take the two lines of code I included in my answer and extend them.

If after modifying your code it still doesn't work, post your modified code and the full text (everything in red) of the error message you received.

[Kyle Reagan]

function [k] = mystat(x) % Enter in an array and mystat will give the min, max, mean, median, mode, % var, and standard deviation of the array.

myout = struct; myout.mean = mean(x); myout.mode = mode(x); myout.median = median(x); myout.min = min(x); myout.max = max(x); myout.std = std(x); myout.var = var(x);

with error:

>> normtemp Output argument "k" (and maybe others) not assigned during call to "mystat".

Error in normtemp (line 8) k=mystat(temp)

[Steven Lord]

Nowhere in your code do you assign to a variable named k. Either change the name of the struct in which you're storing your outputs from myout to k or change the name of your output argument from k to myout. [Don't do both.]

[Kyle Reagan]

I changed it from "function [k]" to "function [myout]" and it worked. Thanks for the help, it's been a year since I've written any functions.