Finding minimum point from any function file input.

Given ANY function file input, which we can assume to be continuous between [1,2], what is the code to estimate the x-value where the graph achieves its minimum point?

Answer 1

[Matt Kindig]

I would check out the documentation for fminsearch() and fminbnd(), or if you have the Optimization Toolbox, fminunc():

doc fminsearch
doc fminbnd
doc fminunc

For example, if your function is f(x)=sin(x), you can call it like this:

sol = fminbnd(@sin, 1, 2)

[Jia Qing Soo]

Is there another way of finding the minimum point?

For example, writing a code such as to input an x-value (from x = 1 to 2 with an interval of 0.1) to derive the corresponding f(x) and then getting matlab to figure out which f(x) is the minimum?

[Matt Kindig]

Are the f(x) functions pre-defined, or can they be literally anything? If they can be anything, this problem is impossible to solve, as there are an infinite number of f(x) functions possible.

What exactly is your goal here?

Answer 2

[Matt J]

If f(x) is vectorized, you would just do

 [minval,minloc] = min(f(1:0.1:2))

If you can't rely on it being vectorized, you would have to loop

 x=1:0.1:2;
 m=inf(size(t));

 for i=1:length(m)

   m(i)=f(x(i));

 end

 [minval,minloc]=min(m);