Beginner Coding: Counting number of states

Hi,

This is my first time coding with any program, and I have a "logistical" question about how to code something to count the number of states?

So the problem that I have to solve is finding the way that 5 particles can be distributed in to 0:5 energy levels given that the total energy can only be from 0-8. So what the question requires me to find is how many ways I can get one energy configuration (let's say total energy equally 4). what I've done so far is that I have made 5 loops - a=[0:5], b=[0:5], c=[0:5], d=[0:5], e=[0:5]. and so is there a function in matlab that can allow me to count how ways I can get a+ b+ c+ d+ e =4?

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

Not a function, but just store the number

theSum = 0; % Initialize

Then your 5 for loops, and in the middle of those

if a+b+c+d+e == 4
    theSum = theSum + 1;
end