Compare two row and select appropriate data

I have two columns. Let's call them column a and column b.

I want to do a check where:

if row 1 of column a > row 1 of column b, use row 1 of column a. Else, use row 1 of column b.

I have tried

if Column a > Column b

Column c = column b

else

Column c = column a

end

However, when I check the data, I find out some of the function isn't working and it just pulls all the data from column a into column c.

Basically column b is the "cap." And no number in column c should be greater than that. If any numbers in column a is greater than column b, column b should be used.

Answer 1

[TW]

The function I ultimately used was:

c=min(a,b)

Thanks @Matt J for pointing me in the right direction, though.

[Matt J]

But that does not match the requirements in your question. "if row 1 of column a > row 1 of column b, use row 1 of column a"

[TW]

Sorry my bad. Flipped the two. I wanted b to be the "cap."

Answer 2

[Matt J]

c=max(a,b)

[TW]

Does that check row by row and make the appropriate choice between whether to use column a or use column b?

[Matt J]

Of course. Did you try it?

[TW]

Yuppa. But I think I wanted the "min" variable, not max.

Answer 3

[Matt J]

Basically column b is the "cap."

If so, one could also do,

a=[1;2;3;4]; b=[1;1;3;3];

c=clip(a,-inf,b)

c = 4×1

1 1 3 3

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[TW]

What's the difference between clip and min?

[Matt J]

In this case, there is no difference, but if you later decided you wanted both lower and upper thresholds, clip() will do that.

c = clip(a,lower,upper)

Answer 4

[Star Strider]

I believe you want the minimum of the two columns.

Try this --

Data = array2table(randi(9, 10, 2), VariableNames=["A","B"])

Data = 10×2 table
    A    B
    _    _

    2    4
    4    2
    3    4
    4    2
    4    9
    6    1
    6    2
    7    6
    2    4
    7    5

[C,idx] = min([Data.A, Data.B],[],2);
Data.C = C

Data = 10×3 table
    A    B    C
    _    _    _

    2    4    2
    4    2    2
    3    4    3
    4    2    2
    4    9    4
    6    1    1
    6    2    2
    7    6    6
    2    4    2
    7    5    5

OriginalColumn = idx

OriginalColumn = 10×1

1 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2

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The 'idx' output is the column chosen to be Column 'C'.

.