Error while mutliplying functions.

I'm trying to multiply these functions:

a = x^2

b = x

Obviously, It should give me: x^3

But when I write the code:

a = @(x)x^2;

b = @(x)x;

c = a*b;

I got the error: Undefined operator '*' for input arguments of type 'function_handle'.

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

You cannot multiply function handles. You can either:

1) evaluate the function handles for some value/s, and multiply their outputs:

 >> a(2).*b(2)
 ans =
     8

2) create a new function (which can be evaluated later):

>> c = @(x)a(x).*b(x);
>> c(2)
ans =
     8

[Daniel Caliari]

I thought It would work same way the symbolic notation and that was my mistake.

Thanks!