Example
This example introduces us to the world of
MATLAB/octave when dealing with functions (and "handles"):
%
tau = 3;
%
% Solution to simple natural differential equation
%
a = exp(-t/tau);
hold off
plot(t,a,'-or')
%
% Solving the simple differential equation using ode45
%
span = [0 20];
y0 = 1;
%
% Use ode45 for MatLab, however lsode should be used for octave
% Use the following two lines for octave and remove the ode45:
% tt = linspace(0,20,100);
% y=lsode('homegoct',y0,tt); % note homegoct has the input parameters reversed
% [tt,y]=ode45(@homeg,span,y0); % alternative MATLAB way
[tt,y]=ode45('homeg',span,y0);
hold on
plot(tt,y,'-+g')
%
% 1 sec steps between 0 and 20 seconds
%
% Solving the simple differential equation using "diffeqnat" which
% uses a non-corrector Euler method
% (snip) -- CUT OUT BECAUSE THIS IS HOMEWORK
%
To do this example you will need the
function homeg.m (or homegoct.m which is the same as homeg.m with
the input variable reversed):
function nat = homeg(t,x)
%
% This is set-up based of MATLAB rules for
% solutions of differential equations. Syntax must
% be followed exactly.
% M(t,y) = 1
% f(t,y) = -x_n(t)/tau
%
tau = 3;
%
% nat is natural differential equation (view it as dx/dt)
%
% view x(1) as x_1 not as one value...this can be a little confusing
%
nat = -x(1)/tau;
end