HW0035
Math 2984 - Fall 2017
Intro to Mathematical Problem Solving

TASK: Evaluate an expression for a probability.

COMMENT: The normal probability distribution assigns a likelihood to each number x. This likelihood depends on x, but also on the average value (Greek letter MU) and a measure of spread (Greek letter SIGMA). The formula for the likelihood of the value x is:

\begin{align} p(x) &= \dfrac{1}{\sigma \sqrt{2\pi}} e^{- {\left( \frac{x-\mu}{\sigma \sqrt{2}} \right)}^2} \end{align}

We would like to write a script that evaluates this quantity, given MU, SIGMA, and X.

INSTRUCTIONS:

        Use MATLAB's input() statement to request values for
        "mu", "sigma", and "x".

          mu = ?;
          sigma = ?;
          x = ?;

        A brave person can try to write the entire formula for p(x) in a single
        line, carefully using parentheses:

          p = ?;

        But a better plan sees the formula as a set of pieces that can be
        built first, and then assembled:

          frac = 1 / ?;    
          top = ?;
          bot = ?;
          power = ( top / bot ) ^ 2;
          p = frac * exp ( - power );

          fprintf ( '  p(%g) = %g\n', x, p );
      

SUBMIT: Your work should be stored in a script file called "hw0035.m". Your script file should begin with at least three comment lines:

        % hw0035.m
        % YOUR NAME
        % This script (describe what it does)
        % Add any comments here that you care to make.