fplot vs plot in MATLAB: Which One Should You Use? (2024)

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between fplot and plot in MATLAB? Or maybe you’ve been using one of these functions for a while and you’re not sure if you’re using the right one for your needs. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at both functions and explain the key differences between them. We’ll also provide some examples of how to use each function so that you can choose the best one for your next project.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

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In MATLAB, there are two main functions that can be used to plot functions: fplot and plot. Both functions can be used to create a variety of different plots, but there are some key differences between the two functions.

What is fplot vs plot in MATLAB?

fplot and plot are both functions in MATLAB that can be used to plot functions. However, there are some key differences between the two functions.

• fplot plots a function over a specified interval, while plot plots a function at a specified set of points. This means that fplot will create a continuous line graph, while plot will create a series of unconnected points.
• fplot is typically used to plot functions that are defined over a continuous interval, while plot is typically used to plot functions that are defined at a discrete set of points. This is because fplot will interpolate the function between the points, while plot will not.

Differences between fplot and plot in MATLAB

The main difference between fplot and plot is the way in which they handle discontinuities in the function. fplot will interpolate the function between the discontinuities, while plot will simply draw a line at the discontinuities. This can result in different looking plots for functions that have discontinuities.

For example, the following code creates two plots of the function `sin(x)`. The first plot is created using fplot, and the second plot is created using plot.

matlab
% Create a plot of sin(x) using fplot
x = linspace(-pi, pi, 100);
y = sin(x);
plot(x, y)

% Create a plot of sin(x) using plot
x = linspace(-pi, pi, 10);
y = sin(x);
plot(x, y)

The following figure shows the two plots.

As you can see, the plot created using fplot is a continuous line graph, while the plot created using plot is a series of unconnected points. This is because fplot interpolates the function between the points, while plot does not.

Another difference between fplot and plot is the way in which they handle NaN values. NaN values are values that are not defined, and they can occur in functions that have discontinuities or that are not defined for certain values of the input. fplot will ignore NaN values when plotting a function, while plot will plot NaN values as empty circles.

For example, the following code creates two plots of the function `log(x)`. The first plot is created using fplot, and the second plot is created using plot.

matlab
% Create a plot of log(x) using fplot
x = linspace(-1, 2, 100);
y = log(x);
plot(x, y)

% Create a plot of log(x) using plot
x = linspace(-1, 2, 10);
y = log(x);
plot(x, y)

The following figure shows the two plots.

As you can see, the plot created using fplot does not include the NaN values, while the plot created using plot includes the NaN values as empty circles.

fplot and plot are both functions in MATLAB that can be used to plot functions. However, there are some key differences between the two functions. fplot plots a function over a specified interval, while plot plots a function at a specified set of points. fplot is typically used to plot functions that are defined over a continuous interval, while plot is typically used to plot functions that are defined at a discrete set of points. fplot will interpolate the function between the discontinuities, while plot will simply draw a line at the discontinuities. fplot will ignore NaN values, while plot will plot NaN values as empty circles.

When choosing between fplot and plot, it is important to consider the specific needs of your application. If you need to plot a function that is defined over a continuous interval, then fplot is the best option. If you need to plot a function that is defined at a

When to use fplot vs plot in MATLAB

fplot and plot are two of the most commonly used functions for plotting data in MATLAB. However, there are some key differences between the two functions that you should be aware of before you decide which one to use.

fplot should be used when you want to plot a function over a continuous interval. This means that the function should be defined for all values of the independent variable. For example, you could use fplot to plot the sine function, the cosine function, or any other function that is defined for all real numbers.

plot should be used when you want to plot a function at a discrete set of points. This means that the function should only be defined for a specific set of values of the independent variable. For example, you could use plot to plot the values of a function that have been measured at specific points in time.

You can also use fplot to plot functions that have discontinuities, but you should be aware that the resulting plot may not be accurate. This is because fplot uses a linear interpolation to draw the plot, which means that it will not be able to accurately represent the function at the points where it is discontinuous.

In general, you should use fplot when you want to plot a smooth, continuous function and you should use plot when you want to plot a function that has discontinuities or that is only defined at a discrete set of points.

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Examples of fplot vs plot in MATLAB

The following code shows an example of how to use fplot to plot a function over a continuous interval.

x = linspace(0, 2*pi, 100);
y = sin(x);

fplot(y)

The resulting plot will show a smooth, continuous curve that represents the function y = sin(x).

The following code shows an example of how to use plot to plot a function at a discrete set of points.

x = [0, pi/2, pi, 3*pi/2, 2*pi];
y = [0, 1, 0, -1, 0];

plot(x, y)

The resulting plot will show a series of unconnected points that represent the values of the function y = sin(x) at the specified points.

The following code shows an example of how to use fplot to plot a function with a discontinuity.

x = [0, 1, 2];
y = [0, 1, 0];

fplot(y)

The resulting plot will show a line that is interpolated between the two points where the function is discontinuous.

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fplot and plot are two powerful tools for plotting data in MATLAB. By understanding the differences between the two functions, you can choose the one that is best suited for your needs.

Q: What is the difference between fplot and plot in MATLAB?

A: fplot and plot are both functions that can be used to plot data in MATLAB. However, there are some key differences between the two functions.

• fplot is a function that plots a function of one variable. This means that you can use fplot to plot a function of time, a function of frequency, or any other function of a single variable.
• plot is a function that plots a series of data points. This means that you can use plot to plot a set of points that represent a function, or you can use plot to plot a set of points that represent a scatter plot or a bar chart.

In general, fplot is a more specialized function than plot. fplot is only used to plot functions of one variable, while plot can be used to plot any type of data. However, fplot is often faster than plot, especially when plotting large datasets.

Q: When should I use fplot instead of plot?

A: You should use fplot instead of plot when you want to plot a function of one variable. This is because fplot is specifically designed for plotting functions, and it will often produce a more accurate and visually appealing plot than plot.

For example, if you want to plot the function `y = sin(x)`, you would use the following code:

fplot(sin(x))

This code will plot the function `y = sin(x)` on the current axes.

Q: What are the arguments of the fplot function?

A: The fplot function takes the following arguments:

• `x`: A vector of values that represents the independent variable.
• `y`: A vector of values that represents the dependent variable.
• `xlim`: A two-element vector that specifies the x-axis limits of the plot.
• `ylim`: A two-element vector that specifies the y-axis limits of the plot.
• `title`: A string that specifies the title of the plot.
• `xlabel`: A string that specifies the label for the x-axis.
• `ylabel`: A string that specifies the label for the y-axis.

Q: How can I change the line style of a plot created with fplot?

A: You can change the line style of a plot created with fplot by using the `linestyle` property. The `linestyle` property can be set to any of the following values:

• `’-‘`: Solid line
• `’–‘`: Dashed line
• `’-.’`: Dash-dot line
• `’:’`: Dotted line

For example, the following code will create a plot of the function `y = sin(x)` with a dashed line:

fplot(sin(x), ‘–‘)

Q: How can I add a legend to a plot created with fplot?

A: You can add a legend to a plot created with fplot by using the `legend` function. The `legend` function takes the following arguments:

• `labels`: A vector of strings that specifies the labels for the plot.
• `loc`: A string that specifies the location of the legend.

For example, the following code will create a plot of the functions `y = sin(x)` and `y = cos(x)` with a legend:

fplot(sin(x), ‘–‘, ‘sin(x)’)
fplot(cos(x), ‘-‘, ‘cos(x)’)
legend(‘sin(x)’, ‘cos(x)’)

Q: How can I save a plot created with fplot to a file?

A: You can save a plot created with fplot to a file by using the `savefig` function. The `savefig` function takes the following arguments:

• `filename`: The name of the file to save the plot to.
• `format`: The format of the file to save the plot to.

For example, the following code will save a plot of the function `y = sin(x)` to a file named `sin_plot.png`:

fplot(sin(x))
savefig(‘sin_plot

In this article, we have discussed the differences between fplot and plot in MATLAB. We have seen that fplot is a function that plots a function of one variable, while plot is a function that plots a function of two variables. We have also seen that fplot can be used to plot functions that are defined using the @ operator, while plot cannot. Finally, we have seen that fplot can be used to plot functions that are defined using the hold command, while plot cannot.

We can conclude that fplot is a more versatile function than plot, and it should be used whenever possible. However, plot is still a useful function, and it can be used to plot functions that are not easily plotted using fplot.