sum function not working

when I enter:

sum([1 2 3])

i get the error message: Index exceeds matrix dimensions.

This seems like a bug.

Answer 1

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

You've probably used sum as a variable. Check in your code, you will find that sum was used as a variable. Clear the variable sum then use again the sum function

clear sum
sum([1 2 3])

[Osama]

Thanks a lot for this

Answer 2

[Jan]

Dear Anthony,

How likely do you think is a bug in such a fundamental Matlab function? We have 96'559 participators in this forum currently and 7447 people have published functions in the FileExchange. Therefore I'm convinced, that there are at least 100'000 Matlab users (an extremely pessimistic estimation). During the development and testing of Matlab such a bug would have been found and if not, any of the users had reported it already.

Azzi's idea is most likely correct and "sum" is one of the most frequently shadowed built-in functions. But a redefined horzcat command could be the problem also.

Whenever such a magic behavior occurs, checking the user-defined parts is a good idea. It is typical, that such problems disappear magically after a restart of the computer or of Matlab. But this does not indicate, that the computer of Matlab caused the problem. It is the typical nature (or even the definition) of magic: Humen see relations between unrelated events.

Welcome to the forum have have fun with Matlab!

[Anthony]

Thanks Jan for your tone and candor. Azzi got it. Thanks Azzi!

Ill stay away from using the b-word.

Peace!

[Jan]

Yes, Anthony, peace!

[Image Analyst]

Answer 3

[Image Analyst]

To find out which, if any, of your m-files overload the built-in MATLAB functions, see the attached program.