Anyone who can help a Matlab program that perform the following matrix problem

I have n by m matrix.I want to find the maximum values for each columns starting from the first column to the last column. However, there is a restriction that only two maximum values are allowed in each rows.

[David Fletcher]

I'm not really sure I fully understand your intended aim. An example may be useful to clarify the true nature of the problem.

Answer 1

[John BG]

Hi Keyre

this is John BG <mailto:[e-mail] [e-mail]>

1.

Let A be your matrix, for instance

m=5;n=8;A=randi([-10 10],n,m)

A
 =
     7    10    -2     4    -5
     9    10     9     5   -10
    -8    -7     6     5    -8
     9    10    10    -2     7
     3    10     3     3     4
    -8     0   -10    -7    -4
    -5     6     7     4     9
     1    -8     9   -10   -10

2.

Combining command sort and flip the columns are arranged top to bottom, max of each column on each top.

B=flip(sort(A))
 =
     9    10    10     5     9
     9    10     9     5     7
     7    10     9     4     4
     3    10     7     4    -4
     1     6     6     3    -5
    -5     0     3    -2    -8
    -8    -7    -2    -7   -10
    -8    -8   -10   -10   -10

3.

Now let's say you want the 3 max elements of each column.

Simply indexing the following way:

B([1:3],:)
 =
     9    10    10     5     9
     9    10     9     5     7
     7    10     9     4     4

You get the 3 largest elements of each column

Keyre

If you find this answer useful would you please be so kind to consider marking my answer as Accepted Answer?

To any other reader, if you find this answer useful please consider clicking on the thumbs-up vote link

thanks in advance

John BG

<mailto:[e-mail] [e-mail]>

[Keyre]

Dear John thanks for your kind response, let me clarify the nature of the problem. Assume the matrix are sorted column wise in ascending order from left to right. Then find one maximum value per column starting from left to right. However, in each row only two maximum values should be shown.

[John BG]

Hi Keyre

this is John BG <mailto:[e-mail] [e-mail]>

I chose 3, to show that one can choose any amount of top values (=< amount lines, indeed).

Do you mean this?

trim_top=2;
B([1:trim_top],:)
 =
     9    10    10     5     9
     9    10     9     5     7

[Jan]

@Keyre: If this solves your needs, a hint for a good programming practice: The square brackets waste time here:

B([1:trim_top], :)

This is slightly faster:

B(1:trim_top, :)

[] is the Matlab operator for concatenation, but 1:trim_top is a vector already and there is noting to concatenate. There are further benefits, see Answers: Why not use square brackets.