Changing elements of vector with matrix

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I have a question regarding a simple operation that I cant find an answer to. Hope that someone can help me.
I have a vector a:
a = zeros(1,10)
and a matrix b:
b = [1, 3; 6, 8]
I want to change elements of a into ones in accordance with the segments indicated by matrix b:
The result should be
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
When I try:
a(b(:,1):b(:,2)) = 1
I get
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Best regards,
Michael

Accepted Answer

Stephen23
Stephen23 on 24 Jun 2020
Edited: Stephen23 on 24 Jun 2020
No loop required:
>> v = 1:numel(a);
>> x = any(v>=b(:,1) & v<=b(:,2), 1); % requires MATLAB >=R2016b
>> a(x) = 1
a =
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
For earlier versions replace the logical comparisons with bsxfun.
Or just use one simple loop:
>> for k = 1:size(b,1), a(b(k,1):b(k,2)) = 1; end
>> a
a =
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0
  3 Comments
Stephen23
Stephen23 on 24 Jun 2020
"I was hoping to do the manuvre without a loop"
See my edited answer.

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More Answers (2)

Ashish Azad
Ashish Azad on 24 Jun 2020
Edited: Ashish Azad on 24 Jun 2020
The syntax you are using is very ambiguous and will never work
Try
for i=1:length(b)
a(b(i,1):b(i,2))=1;
end
Let me know if this work
  2 Comments
Stephen23
Stephen23 on 24 Jun 2020
Edited: Stephen23 on 24 Jun 2020
Do NOT use length for this code:
for i=1:length(b)
Consider what would happen if b only has one row.
The only robust solution is to use size and specify the dimension.
Ashish Azad
Ashish Azad on 24 Jun 2020
Yeah truly said Stephen, size would be robust option

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Alan Stevens
Alan Stevens on 24 Jun 2020
One way as follows:
a =
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
>> b
b =
1 3
6 8
>> a([b(1,1):b(1,2) b(2,1):b(2,2)]) = 1
a =
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0

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