Index exceeds matrix dimensions error

Hey,

I have written a function (shown below) which acts on a matrix. The matrix is of size 1 x n (I have tried to debug the program by testing the k(n)th number. However, during my loop I get the error that "Index exceeds matrix dimensions." which refers to the line of algebra (sum = sum + ....). I have been trying to debug for a while with no success .. Could anyone please shed some light on my error ?

Thanks for your time.

function [sum]=summation_star(c, d1, d2, d3, d4, k1, k2, k3, w, x, t, n, B)
%coefficients A*inc, Ai* and Bi* 
g=9.81;
syms z
sum = 0;
l=1;
while (l < n)

      h=1;
      while (h < n)
          sum = sum + ((mtimes(c,k1(h)*g*exp(i*k1(h)*(x+(B/2)))*exp(-i*w*t)/(w*cosh(k1(h)*d1)))*int(cosh(k2(h)*(z+d2))*cosh(k3(l)*(z+d3)), z, 0, -d4)));
          h = h+1;
      end
      l = l+1;
  end

[Preethi]

hi,

try by placing a breakpoint at the mentioned step. On execution, once the break point is reached check individual values in the expression. This should help to identify the error source.

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

I would recommend breaking that expression into smaller parts, using temporary variables. I certainly can't keep track of the opening and closing brackets so I find it very difficult to know what is multiplied with what. At the same time, it'll make it easier to find which part of the expression causes the invalid indexing.

I find it very suspicious that you're using mtimes in lieu of * for one of the multiplications. Why is that particular multiplication singled out?

If n is supposed to be the number of elements in k1 and k2 then it shouldn't be an input but should be derived from k1 or k2 instead:

n = min(numel(k1), numel(k2));  %for example

If n is independent of the number of elements in k1 and k2 then the function ought to check that it is not greater than this number of elements. So I'd start the function with:

validateattributes(n, {'numeric'}, {'scalar', 'integer', positive', '<', min(numel(k1), numel(k2))}

Finally, it's not recommend to use sum as a variable name since it shadows the sum function.

[Alex Wylie]

Hey thanks for the help, I have simplified the code and removed 'sum', however I tried to use your code and wasn't able to debug it.

I'm still stuck with 'Index exceeds matrix dimensions', which doesn't seem to make sense as I am running the loops a valid amount of times with regards to the size of their array: 'n'. I have tried to decrease and increase 'n' with regards to the size of k1, k2, etc and it doesn't work. It is not as infinite loop as there are a set amount of iterations before failure. Any ideas?

[Guillaume]

Use the debugger. At the command prompt,

dbstop if error

Run your code. When it breaks into the debugger, look at the value of n and compare it to:

numel(k1)
numel(k2)

Also, if you've broken down your expression into smaller expression, which subexpression is causing the error?