%% machinenumber1
% help for machinenumber1
% copyright 1998, D. Estep
%
% PURPOSE
%
% this script computes the machine number using a while loop
%
% FUNCTION STATEMENT 
%   
% machinenumber1
%
% REQUIRED VARIABLES
%
% no input variables
%
% USAGE
%
% >>machinenumber1

% Author: Don Estep
% Date:   11/24/98

x=2;
% this is the increment we add to 1, we start with 2 and
% decrease from there.  We put a ";" on the statement so
% that it would not print when the script is executed

while (1 + x > 1)
   % a while loop: has the form
   %    while expression
   %        commands
   %    end
   % it repeatedly does the commands inbetween the while and
   % the end as long as the expression after the while is true
   
   x = x/2;
   
   % make the increment smaller, end the line with a ";" to 
   % keep it from printing during each loop!
   
   % if you don't do something to change the condition after
   % the while, the loop will run forever!
   
end

x
%print the value of x

x*2
% print 2*x. The machine number is between x and 2x.


% the output of this file gives:
%  >>machinenumber1
%  x =

%    1.110223024625156e-016

%  ans =

%    2.220446049250313e-016