MATLAB: I keep getting parse error when I try and run this script, why

Question

%Assignment 4 for SES 619 by Ethan Postans

%Fall 2018, Dr. Smith

load data_set1.dat

Column1 – height(cm)

Column2 – mass(kg)

Column3 – body fat(kg)

height = data_set1(:,1);

mass = data_set1(:,2);

fat = data_set1(:,3);

figure(1) %tells matlab to create figure 1

clf reset; %clears and resets figure 1

plot(height, mass, '.'); %plots points

xlabel('subject height (cm)'); %adds label to x-axis

ylabel('subject mass (kg)'); %adds label to y axis

title('Height vs Mass'); %adds title

figure(2) %tells matlab to create figure 2

clf reset; %clears and resets figure 2

plot(height,fat,'.'); %plots points

xlabel('Subject height (cm)'); %adds label to x-axis

ylabel('Subject body fat (kg)'); %adds label to y-axis

title('Height vs Body Fat'); %adds title

The Column3 line is where Matlab is telling me that I have a parse error.

Answer 1

Column1 - height(cm)

is a request to find a variable named Column1 or to execute aa function named Column1 and return the result into the expression . Then a variable named cm is to be found or aa function named cm is to be executed to return aa value . with the value of the variable or function in hand, look for aa variable named height and index the variable with the value of cm , but otherwise look for aa function named height and execute it passing in the result of cm. The result of height(cm) is then to be subtracted from the Column1 result. With no semicolon at the end of the line the result is to be displayed .

This is syntactically valid and could work .

Your third line starts with aa subtraction of body from Column3 but then after that there is a space and fat(kg) . The fat(kg) part is syntactically valid being an indexing of aa variable or calling aa function . The problem is that there is no implied multiplication or space operation in MATLAB .

You need to put aa comma between body and fat or else you need to put [ before Column3 and ] after fat(kg)

[Column3 - body fat(kg)]