The min function is not working, but the max function is. Help

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Why is the min function working differently from the max function?
For example I have this 936x1 column and this is what happens:
min(matlabdate1982)
Error: Subscript indices must either be real positive integers or logicals.
max(matlabdate1982)
ans =
7.346826152497685e+05
Another example is if I have a simple vector: f=[1;2;3;4;5;6;7];
min(f)
ans =
35
24
56
30
36
27
17
max(f)
ans =
7
Why are these so different? Can anyone help me?

Accepted Answer

Kelly Kearney
Kelly Kearney on 16 Jun 2014
Edited: Kelly Kearney on 16 Jun 2014
My guess is you created a variable named min
Type
which min -all
to check.
  3 Comments
Kelly Kearney
Kelly Kearney on 16 Jun 2014
Yes, rename the variable to something else and then delete the min variable. Variables in your workspace will always shadow functions of the same name, so it's good practice to avoid function-names when naming your variables.
You'll never be able to memorize all functions, but it seems the most common culprits are things like min, max, mean, sum, date, path, etc.
Star Strider
Star Strider on 16 Jun 2014
One way to check that possibility (in the MATLAB Editor) is to right-click on the variable name, then click on ‘Help on Selection’ in the pop-up menu that appears. If the ‘Help’ window that appears says ‘No help found for ...’ you’re safe.

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