Program vs Function?

Hi, I would just like to ask what is the difference between writing a program vs a function? I'm currently working on a few cdf exercises for my course: for example, prob that returns lies within 1% and 9% given that: no of monte carlo simulations: 1,000,000, mu = 6% and sigma = 25%. Now, I'm able to generate the answer by doing either: prob_bet_1and9=sum((return_norm>.01)&(return_norm<.09))/n or prob_bet_1and9F=normcdf(.09,.06,.25)-normcdf(.01,.06,.25) but I'm told this is not a function. How do I make this a function and what's the difference between that and what I'm doing right now? Why is one better than the other? FYI, I'm still a newbie in Matlab so if you can explain it plainly that would be amazing. Thanks!

[Stephen23]

"Program vs Function?"

I know what a function is, but what is a program? Can you please show a reference for MATLAB.

"How do I make this a function and what's the difference between that and what I'm doing right now?"

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/function.html

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/scripts-and-functions.html

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/scripts-and-functions.html

functions are almost always better.

Not mentioned in the page I linked to is the fact that MATLAB can almost always generate more efficient code for a function than it can for a script.