convert negative zero of matrix into zero

if true
  l(:,k) = eig(A(:,:,k));

like this,

l =

Columns 1 through 5

   -0.0000    
    1.0000 
  end

i want to make the -0.0000 to 0, how can i do this?

i tried

l(l < 0 )=0

but i don't know if it working because i still get errors

i also tried

if true
  l(:,k) = eig(A(:,:,k));
  l(:,k)(l(:,k) < 0 )
end

i get cannot call or index into a temporary array

thanks

Answer 1

[Geoff Hayes]

Suma - what do you mean by you tried l(l < 0 )=0 but i don't know if it working because i still get errors? What errors are you observing, or is it that it just didn't work? Trying something like that line of code will set all negative elements of the matrix to zero, not just those that are close to zero (and still negative).

An alternative is to define a tolerance value and write some code that "says" something like "if the absolute value of the element is very close to my tolerance, then consider this element to be zero". You could do the following

 A      = magic(4);
 A(1,1) = A(1,1)/-50000000;
 A(2,2) = A(2,2)/-50000000;
 A(3,3) = A(3,3)/-50000000;
 A(4,4) = A(4,4)/-50000000;
 A(1,4) = A(1,4)/50000000;

The matrix A has elements along the diagonal that are negative and close to zero

 A =

   -0.0000    2.0000    3.0000    0.0000
    5.0000   -0.0000   10.0000    8.0000
    9.0000    7.0000   -0.0000   12.0000
    4.0000   14.0000   15.0000   -0.0000

Now define a tolerance value such as

 tol = 1.e-6;

Now do the following

 A(A<0 & A>-tol) = 0;

All negative elements of A (first condition) which are greater than the negative of the tolerance (second condition) should be set to zero. And so A becomes

 A =

         0    2.0000    3.0000    0.0000
    5.0000         0   10.0000    8.0000
    9.0000    7.0000         0   12.0000
    4.0000   14.0000   15.0000         0

Note how only the elements along the diagonal are affected. The small but positive element at A(1,4) remains as is.

Answer 2

[Rick]

Use this code. Matlab supports -0 as a value, but will show true if -0==0 is tested. This will set all zero entries to positive zero:

A(A==0)=0;