I am trying to use a script to run simpsons rule to numerically integrate a function, it keeps giving me an error.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

You are trying to pass parameters to a script. You cannot do that. In order to be able to pass parameters to something, it has to be a function (or a class constructor.)

A script is a .m file whose first executable token is not either "function" or "classdef". You cannot pass parameters to them.

You need to add a "function" header line to your code.

Answer 2

[James Tursa]

A script is an m-file that has MATLAB statements in it only, without a function statement. E.g.,

File myfun1.m:
  x = 2*a;

File myfun2.m:
  function x = myfun2(a)
  x = 2*a;
  return
  end

The first file, myfun1.m, is a script file. It simply executes MATLAB statements based on the variables in your workspace. The second file, myfun2.m, is a function file. It takes an input argument and returns an output.

Your simpsonsrule.m file is apparently a script file like myfun1.m, but you are trying to call it like a function that takes inputs and returns outputs. To do that, you need to add in the function statement and set the return variables.