eval giving the wrong mathematical answer

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Katie Doyle
Katie Doyle on 22 Feb 2015
Edited: John D'Errico on 22 Feb 2015
I'm trying to write a script that I will use for Newton Rhapson approximation. I am testing as I go and I noticed that the eval command is returning the incorrect mathematical answer. I am testing it with x=2 with func=((2*x)*(log(x)))-1
Here is the code:
syms x;
func=input('Enter your function in terms of x: ');
f=@(x)(func);
z=diff(f(x));
f1=@(x)(z);
x0=input('Enter your initial value of x: ');
x=x0
s=char(f1);
y=subs(f1)
eval(y)
Upon entering x=2 and func=((2*x)*(log(x)))-1
The code redturns:
x =
2
y =
2*log(2) + 2
ans =
3.3863
The answer to 2*log(2)+2 should be 2.602
What am I doing wrong?

Answers (1)

Roger Stafford
Roger Stafford on 22 Feb 2015
In matlab the 'log' function is considered to be the natural logarithm with base e, not 10. Therefore 3.3863 is the correct answer, not 2.602 .
  1 Comment
John D'Errico
John D'Errico on 22 Feb 2015
Edited: John D'Errico on 22 Feb 2015
And of course, if you really wanted a log to the base 10, use log10.
2*log10(2)+2
ans =
2.6021
Computers are so silly. They do what you tell them to do, instead of what you want them to do.

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