Performing a convolution of two exponential functions in Matlab

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I'm currently attempting to convolve two exponential(one gaussian) functions in order to create a convolved equation in Matlab that I can then use in the custom equation section of the Curve Fitting application to fit to a distribution in order to extract certain parameter values for multiple datasets. The convolve functions in Matlab that I have examined seem to only work when utilizing matrices and there doesn't seem to be a method to convolve symbolic functions. Since my understanding of advanced convolutions and the corresponding integrals that go along with it is weak, I'm concerned my initial attempt at convolving the two equations contains errors.
f(equation1) = a*exp((-x)/(b))+1
f(equation2) = (1/(4*pi*c^2))*exp((-x^2)/(4*c^2))
f(convolveattempt1) = (1/(4*sqrt(pi)*c)) + (a/(2*sqrt(pi)*c))*exp(((b*x-2*c^2)^2-(b^2)*(x^2))/(4*c^2*b^2))*(1-normcdf(((2*c^2-b*x)/(c*b*sqrt(2))),mu,sigma))
My first attempt at convolution (by hand) seems to return unexpected values for certain parameters (namely c) when I fit it to the distributions. I'm wondering if there is a method to let Matlab perform the convolution and allow me to fit my dataset (preferably in the curve fitting function where I can adjust parameter limits and bounds) without having to rely on my math and parenthetical placement.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
  4 Comments
Image Analyst
Image Analyst on 16 Jul 2015
I don't think with just equation 1 and equation 3 you can figure out what a, b, and c should be. I mean, they could be anything.
Ram Stan
Ram Stan on 16 Jul 2015
That's not an issue, I can extract (a b c) from curve fitting any of the equations. I'm attempting to figure out if there is a method of performing a symbolic function convolution in Matlab since I have suspicions that my convolution attempt by hand has errors in it.

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Accepted Answer

Ghada Saleh
Ghada Saleh on 17 Jul 2015
Hi Ram,
You can use the int function in the Symbolic Math Toolbox. This function does not always give a closed form solution but in my knowledge, this is the only function that can perform symbolic convolution. In your case, you can execute the following code:
>> syms x a b c t;
>> f1 = a*exp((-x)/(b))+1;
>> f2 = (1/(4*pi*c^2))*exp((-x^2)/(4*c^2));
>> f2_c = (1/(4*pi*c^2))*exp((-(t-x)^2)/(4*c^2)); %f2_c = f2(t-x)
>> result = int(f1*f2_c,t,-inf,inf);
I hope this helps,
Ghada
  1 Comment
Ram Stan
Ram Stan on 18 Dec 2015
Hello Ghada,
I appreciate the response, it seems like this particular equation fits with similar fitted parameters as the derived equation I was using before. To me it looks like the proper convolution as near as I can tell.
Thank you,
Ram

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More Answers (1)

Torsten
Torsten on 17 Jul 2015
  1 Comment
Ram Stan
Ram Stan on 18 Dec 2015
Hello Torsten,
This isn't quite the answer I was looking for, I attempted the wolphram alpha convolution prior to even submitting my question here, but the format and corresponding answer wolphram gives doesn't provide a usable/fittable equation (at least as far as matlab goes). From what I can tell, the wolphram answer doesn't fully convolve the two equations into a separate equation, instead leaving some abstract functions that can't be parsed in Matlab to fit a curve.
Thanks,
Ram

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