derivative of a function file

hello everybody i'm wondering if it's possible to find the numerical derivative of a piecewise function that i have separately built as a function file in matlbab

[Jan]

What exactly is the derivative of a piecewise function? Does "piecewise" implies a continuous derivative in your problem?

[Walter Roberson]

A spline, for example, is piecewise. (Note: there is a spline derivative routine around.)

Piecewise does not necessarily have a smooth derivative.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

gradient() ?

Answer 2

[Andrea]

i guess that the derivatice cannot be continuous since i have a piecewise function, mine wasn't a precise question. what i need to know is if i can somehow calculate the numerical derivative of an equation that i wrote as a function file, my very little knowledge on matlab tells me i cannot, but maybe i'm wrong....sir Roberson do you think gradient() would do the job? thank you all

[Walter Roberson]

If you create a vector or array of values by running them through the function, then you can gradient() that vector or array.