MATLAB: Determining machine epsilon through steps

Question

I was doing my homework, and it asks me to write a code to determine epsilon. The question was to write code based on these steps

Step 1: Set ε = 1.

Step 2: If 1 + ε is less than or equal to 1, then go to Step 5. Otherwise go to Step 3.

Step 3: ε = ε/2

Step 4: Return to Step 2

Step 5: ε = 2 × ε

So I wrote,

e=1

while e+1>=1

e=e/2;

end

e=2*e;

however, not only looks like MATLAB doesn't want to process this, but also stopped working. I still can type codes but none of them actually getting registered. I just started to learn MATLAB, so I know almost nothing about it. Anyone can help me?

I'm using MATLAB through Citrix, by the way.

Answer 1

You made a mistake with step 2, the condition to stop is: 1+e <= 1, thus the condition to continue is 1+e > 1. As it is your loop continues forever as when e equal epsilon, e+1 == 1