fittype

aFittype = fittype(libraryModelName) creates the fittype object aFittype for the model specified by libraryModelName.

aFittype = fittype(expression) creates a fit type for the model specified by the MATLAB^® expression.

aFittype = fittype(expression,Name,Value) constructs the fit type with additional options specified by one or more Name,Value pair arguments.

aFittype = fittype(linearModelTerms) creates a fit type for a custom linear model with terms specified by the cell array of character vector expressions in linearModelTerms.

aFittype = fittype(linearModelTerms,Name,Value) constructs the fit type with additional options specified by one or more Name,Value pair arguments.

aFittype = fittype(anonymousFunction) creates a fit type for the model specified by anonymousFunction.

aFittype = fittype(anonymousFunction,Name,Value) constructs the fit type with additional options specified by one or more Name,Value pair arguments.

Examples

Create Fit Types for Library Models

Construct fit types by specifying library model names.

Construct a fittype object for the cubic polynomial library model.

f = fittype('poly3')

f = 
     Linear model Poly3:
     f(p1,p2,p3,p4,x) = p1*x^3 + p2*x^2 + p3*x + p4

Construct a fit type for the library model rat33 (a rational model of the third degree for both the numerator and denominator).

f = fittype('rat33')

f = 
     General model Rat33:
     f(p1,p2,p3,p4,q1,q2,q3,x) = (p1*x^3 + p2*x^2 + p3*x + p4) /
               (x^3 + q1*x^2 + q2*x + q3)

For a list of library model names, see libraryModelName.

Create Custom Linear Model

To use a linear fitting algorithm, specify a cell array of terms.

Identify the linear model terms you need to input to fittype: a*x + b*sin(x) + c. The model is linear in a, b and c. It has three terms x, sin(x) and 1 (because c=c*1). To specify this model you use this cell array of terms: LinearModelTerms = {'x','sin(x)','1'}.

Use the cell array of linear model terms as the input to fittype.

ft = fittype({'x','sin(x)','1'})

ft = 
     Linear model:
     ft(a,b,c,x) = a*x + b*sin(x) + c

Create a linear model fit type for a*cos(x) + b.

ft2 = fittype({'cos(x)','1'})

ft2 = 
     Linear model:
     ft2(a,b,x) = a*cos(x) + b

Create the fit type again and specify coefficient names.

ft3 = fittype({'cos(x)','1'},'coefficients',{'a1','a2'})

ft3 = 
     Linear model:
     ft3(a1,a2,x) = a1*cos(x) + a2

Create Custom Nonlinear Models and Specify Problem Parameters and Independent Variables

Construct fit types for custom nonlinear models, designating problem-dependent parameters and independent variables.

Construct a fit type for a custom nonlinear model, designating n as a problem-dependent parameter and u as the independent variable.

g = fittype('a*u+b*exp(n*u)',...
            'problem','n',...
            'independent','u')

g = 
     General model:
     g(a,b,n,u) = a*u+b*exp(n*u)

Construct a fit type for a custom nonlinear model, designating time as the independent variable.

g = fittype('a*time^2+b*time+c','independent','time','dependent','height')

g = 
     General model:
     g(a,b,c,time) = a*time^2+b*time+c

Construct a fit type for a logarithmic fit to some data, use the fit type to create a fit, and plot the fit.

x = linspace(1,100);  
y = 5 + 7*log(x);
myfittype = fittype('a + b*log(x)',...
    'dependent',{'y'},'independent',{'x'},...
    'coefficients',{'a','b'})

myfittype = 
     General model:
     myfittype(a,b,x) = a + b*log(x)

myfit = fit(x',y',myfittype)

Warning: Start point not provided, choosing random start point.

myfit = 
     General model:
     myfit(x) = a + b*log(x)
     Coefficients (with 95% confidence bounds):
       a =           5  (5, 5)
       b =           7  (7, 7)

plot(myfit,x,y)

You can specify any MATLAB command and therefore any .m file.

Fit a Curve Defined by a File

Define a function in a file and use it to create a fit type and fit a curve.

Define a function in a MATLAB file.

function y = piecewiseLine(x,a,b,c,d,k)
% PIECEWISELINE   A line made of two pieces
% that is not continuous.

y = zeros(size(x));

% This example includes a for-loop and if statement
% purely for example purposes.
for i = 1:length(x)
    if x(i) < k,
        y(i) = a + b.* x(i);
    else
        y(i) = c + d.* x(i);
    end
end
end

Save the file.

Define some data, create a fit type specifying the function piecewiseLine, create a fit using the fit type ft, and plot the results.

x = [0.81;0.91;0.13;0.91;0.63;0.098;0.28;0.55;...
    0.96;0.96;0.16;0.97;0.96];
y = [0.17;0.12;0.16;0.0035;0.37;0.082;0.34;0.56;...
    0.15;-0.046;0.17;-0.091;-0.071];
ft = fittype( 'piecewiseLine( x, a, b, c, d, k )' )
f = fit( x, y, ft, 'StartPoint', [1, 0, 1, 0, 0.5] )
plot( f, x, y )

Create Custom Linear Model

To use a linear fitting algorithm, specify a cell array of terms.

Use the cell array of linear model terms as the input to fittype.

ft = fittype({'x','sin(x)','1'})

ft = 
     Linear model:
     ft(a,b,c,x) = a*x + b*sin(x) + c

Create a linear model fit type for a*cos(x) + b.

ft2 = fittype({'cos(x)','1'})

ft2 = 
     Linear model:
     ft2(a,b,x) = a*cos(x) + b

Create the fit type again and specify coefficient names.

ft3 = fittype({'cos(x)','1'},'coefficients',{'a1','a2'})

ft3 = 
     Linear model:
     ft3(a1,a2,x) = a1*cos(x) + a2

Create Fit Types Using Anonymous Functions

Create a fit type using an anonymous function.

g = fittype( @(a, b, c, x) a*x.^2+b*x+c )

Create a fit type using an anonymous function and specify independent and dependent parameters.

g = fittype( @(a, b, c, d, x, y) a*x.^2+b*x+c*exp(...
 -(y-d).^2 ), 'independent', {'x', 'y'},...
     'dependent', 'z' );

Create a fit type for a surface using an anonymous function and specify independent and dependent parameters, and problem parameters that you will specify later when you call fit.

g = fittype( @(a,b,c,d,x,y) a*x.^2+b*x+c*exp( -(y-d).^2 ), ...
        'problem', {'c','d'}, 'independent', {'x', 'y'}, ...
        'dependent', 'z' );

Use an Anonymous Function to Pass in Workspace Data to the Fit

Use an anonymous function to pass workspace data into the fittype and fit functions.

Create and plot an S-shaped curve. In later steps, you stretch and move this curve to fit to some data.

% Breakpoints.
xs = (0:0.1:1).';
% Height of curve at breakpoints.
ys = [0; 0; 0.04; 0.1; 0.2; 0.5; 0.8; 0.9; 0.96; 1; 1];
% Plot S-shaped curve.
xi = linspace( 0, 1, 241 );
plot( xi, interp1( xs, ys, xi, 'pchip' ), 'LineWidth', 2 )
hold on
plot( xs, ys, 'o', 'MarkerFaceColor', 'r' )
hold off
title S-curve

Create a fit type using an anonymous function, taking the values from the workspace for the curve breakpoints (xs) and the height of the curve at the breakpoints (ys). Coefficients are b (base) and h (height).

ft = fittype( @(b, h, x) interp1( xs, b+h*ys, x, 'pchip' ) )

Plot the fittype specifying example coefficients of base b=1.1 and height h=-0.8.

plot( xi, ft( 1.1, -0.8, xi ), 'LineWidth', 2 )
title 'Fittype with b=1.1 and h=-0.8'

Load and fit some data, using the fit type ft created using workspace values.

% Load some data
xdata = [0.012;0.054;0.13;0.16;0.31;0.34;0.47;0.53;0.53;...
   0.57;0.78;0.79;0.93];
ydata = [0.78;0.87;1;1.1;0.96;0.88;0.56;0.5;0.5;0.5;0.63;...
   0.62;0.39];
% Fit the curve to the data
f = fit( xdata, ydata, ft, 'Start', [0, 1] )
% Plot fit
plot( f, xdata, ydata )
title 'Fitted S-curve'

Use Anonymous Functions to Work with Problem Parameters and Workspace Variables

This example shows the differences between using anonymous functions with problem parameters and workspace variable values.

Load data, create a fit type for a curve using an anonymous function with problem parameters, and call fit specifying the problem parameters.

% Load some data.
xdata = [0.098;0.13;0.16;0.28;0.55;0.63;0.81;0.91;0.91;...
    0.96;0.96;0.96;0.97];
ydata = [0.52;0.53;0.53;0.48;0.33;0.36;0.39;0.28;0.28;...
    0.21;0.21;0.21;0.2];

% Create a fittype that has a problem parameter.
g = fittype( @(a,b,c,x) a*x.^2+b*x+c, 'problem', 'c' )

% Examine coefficients. Observe c is not a coefficient.
coeffnames( g )

% Examine arguments. Observe that c is an argument.
argnames( g )

% Call fit and specify the value of c.
f1 = fit( xdata, ydata, g, 'problem', 0, 'StartPoint', [1, 2] )

% Note: Specify start points in the calls to fit to
% avoid warning messages about random start points
% and to ensure repeatability of results.

% Call fit again and specify a different value of c,
% to get a new fit.
f2 = fit( xdata, ydata, g, 'problem', 1, 'start', [1, 2] )

% Plot results. Observe the specified c constants
% do not make a good fit.
plot( f1, xdata, ydata )
hold on
plot( f2, 'b' )
hold off

Modify the previous example to create the same fits using workspace values for variables, instead of using problem parameters. Using the same data, create a fit type for a curve using an anonymous function with a workspace value for variable c:

% Remove c from the argument list.
try
    g = fittype( @(a,b,x) a*x.^2+b*x+c )
catch e
    disp( e.message )
end
% Observe error because now c is undefined.
% Define c and create fittype:
c = 0;
g1 = fittype( @(a,b,x) a*x.^2+b*x+c )

% Call fit (now no need to specify problem parameter).
f1 = fit( xdata, ydata, g1, 'StartPoint', [1, 2] )
% Note that this f1 is the same as the f1 above.
% To change the value of c, recreate the fittype.
c = 1;
g2 = fittype( @(a,b,x) a*x.^2+b*x+c ) % uses c = 1
f2 = fit( xdata, ydata, g2, 'StartPoint', [1, 2] )
% Note that this f2 is the same as the f2 above.
% Plot results
plot( f1, xdata, ydata )
hold on
plot( f2, 'b' )
hold off

Input Arguments

`libraryModelName` — Library model to fit
character vector

Library model to fit, specified as a character vector. This table shows some common examples.

Library Model Name	Description
`'poly1'`	Linear polynomial curve
`'poly11'`	Linear polynomial surface
`'poly2'`	Quadratic polynomial curve
`'linearinterp'`	Piecewise linear interpolation
`'cubicinterp'`	Piecewise cubic interpolation
`'smoothingspline'`	Smoothing spline (curve)
`'lowess'`	Local linear regression (surface)

For a list of library model names, see Model Names and Equations.

Example: 'poly2'

Data Types: char

`expression` — Model to fit
character vector

Model to fit, specified as a character vector. You can specify any MATLAB command and therefore any .m file. See Fit a Curve Defined by a File.

Data Types: char

`linearModelTerms` — Model to fit
cell array of character vectors

Model to fit, specified as a cell array of character vectors. Specify the model terms by the expressions in the character vectors. Do not include coefficients in the expressions for the terms. See Linear Model Terms.

Data Types: cell

`anonymousFunction` — Model to fit
anonymous function

Model to fit, specified as an anonymous function. For details, see Input Order for Anonymous Functions.

Data Types: char

Name-Value Pair Arguments

Specify optional comma-separated pairs of Name,Value arguments. Name is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. Name must appear inside quotes. You can specify several name and value pair arguments in any order as Name1,Value1,...,NameN,ValueN.

Example: 'coefficients',{'a1','a2'}

`'coefficients'` — Coefficient names
character vector | cell array of character vectors

Coefficient names, specified as the comma-separated pair consisting of 'coefficients' and a character vector, or a cell array of character vectors for multiple names. You can use multicharacter symbol names. You cannot use these names: i, j, pi, inf, nan, eps.

Data Types: char | cell

`'dependent'` — Dependent (response) variable name
`y` (default) | character vector

Dependent (response) variable name, specified as the comma-separated pair consisting of 'dependent' and a character vector. If you do not specify the dependent variable, the function assumes y is the dependent variable.

Data Types: char

`'independent'` — Independent (response) variable names
`x` (default) | character vector | cell array of character vectors

Independent (response) variable names, specified as the comma-separated pair consisting of 'independent' and a character vector or cell array of character vectors. If you do not specify the independent variable, the function assumes x is the independent variable.

Data Types: char

`'options'` — Fit options
`fitoptions`

Fit options, specified as the comma-separated pair consisting of 'options' and the name of a fitoptions object.

`'problem'` — Problem-dependent (fixed) parameter names
cell array

Problem-dependent (fixed) parameter names, specified as the comma-separated pair consisting of 'problem' and a character vector, or cell array of character vectors with one element per problem dependent constant.

Data Types: char | cell

Output Arguments

`aFittype` — Model to fit
`fittype` object

Model to fit, returned as a fittype. A fittype encapsulates information describing a model. To create a fit, you need data, a fittype, and (optionally) fitoptions and an exclusion rule. You can use a fittype as an input to the fit function.

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