Functions and Flow Control Flashcards

What is a recursive function in MATLAB?

Answer: A function that calls itself

A recursive function calls itself within its own body, typically with a simpler input, until a base case is reached.

Which of the following correctly implements factorial recursively in MATLAB?

Answer: function n = fact(n); if n>1; n = n * fact(n-1); end; end

The correct recursive factorial checks for the base case (n<=1 returns 1) and multiplies n by fact(n-1).

What is a local function in MATLAB?

Answer: A helper function defined after the main function in the same .m file

Local functions are additional functions defined at the bottom of a script or function file and are only accessible within that file.

Which MATLAB statement evaluates a block of code only if all previous `elseif` and `if` conditions were false?

Answer: else

The `else` clause runs when no preceding `if` or `elseif` condition evaluated to true.

What is `cellfun` used for in MATLAB?

Answer: Apply a function to each element of a cell array

`cellfun(func, C)` applies the function `func` to each element of cell array `C` and returns the results.

In MATLAB, what happens if a `switch` expression matches multiple `case` values listed in a cell array like `case {1, 2}`?

Answer: The case block executes if the expression equals any value in the cell array

When a case uses a cell array, MATLAB executes that block if the switch expression matches any value in the cell array.

What is the key difference between `break` and `return` in MATLAB?

Answer: `break` exits the innermost loop; `return` exits the current function

`break` only exits the innermost loop construct, while `return` exits the entire current function and returns to the caller.