# MATLAB: Pre-alocating an array and locating last empty cells

MATLABmatrix array

Hi
I am currently doing a project Euler problem for Pythagorean triplets. I have decided to use matrix transformation to produce my results. It takes a single set of triplets and transforms them with three matrix to produce three new sets triplets, each of these in turn can then be passed through the matrix to produce further triplets, creating a tree of results.
Where I am stuck is how do I store each set of triplets in my pre-allocated array. I need to step incrementally through the array to pick up my new triplets to be transformed and produce three answers that need storing. Do I use two counters, to me this feels messy and inelegant. Is there another way I need to be looking at storing the answers in the array. Advice always gratefully received, thanks.
As requested some code to show what I would like to achieve.
function PyTout = PyTrip(PyTin)% A Pythagorean triplet is a set of three natural numbers, a  b  c, for which,% a2 + b2 = c2% % For example, 32 + 42 = 9 + 16 = 25 = 52.% % There exists exactly one Pythagorean triplet for which a + b + c = 1000.% Find the product abc.%matrix for triplets, row one parent triplet, row 2,3,4 new tripletPyMx = zeros(4,1000);%load PyMx with parent (0) and first Py triplet (3 4 5)PyMx(1:4,1) = [0 3 4 5 ];%three transformation matrix for new Py TripletsTripTrans1 = [-1 2 2; -2 1 2; -2 2 3];TripTrans2 = [1 2 2; 2 1 2; 2 2 3];TripTrans3 = [1 -2 2; 2 1 2; 2 -2 3];for i = 1:(length(PyMx)/3)    TempMx1 = PyMx(2:4,i);      %first transformation,       TempMx2 = TripTrans1 * TempMx1;      %load into matrix, 2nd column      PyMx(1:4,2) = [i TempMx2(1:1) TempMx2(2:2) TempMx2(3:3)];      TempMx3 = TripTrans2 * TempMx1;      %load into matrix, 3rd column      PyMx(1:4,3) = [i TempMx3(1:1) TempMx3(2:2) TempMx3(3:3)];      TempMx4 = TripTrans3 * TempMx1;      %load into matrix, 4th column      PyMx(1:4,4) = [i TempMx4(1:1) TempMx4(2:2) TempMx4(3:3)];      %now need to perform again, stepping to second column but three ans need       %to go into 5th, 6th, 7th columns end
I could implement a second counter to increment each time I perform a TMx1, TMx,2 TMx3 calculation. But I am asking is there a more efficient way to do this and load the data into the matrix. to me I seem to be typing out a lot of long hand, is there a better, more effitiant or preffered way I should do this. I am not just trying to find the ans to the problem (I could look at wiki page of Py triplets and get excel to sum them and give me an ans) I am also trying to improve my programing and how I think about it. Thanks for your time.

#### Best Answer

• If you want to keep the 3 sets of triplet, I suggest you using 3-D matrix. Your three transformation matrix can be assigned to a 3-D matrix too.
TripTrans(:,:,1) = [-1 2 2; -2 1 2; -2 2 3];TripTrans(:,:,2) = [1 2 2; 2 1 2; 2 2 3];TripTrans(:,:,3) = [1 -2 2; 2 1 2; 2 -2 3];
Any time you want to use TripTrans1, just use TripTrans(:,:,1) instead. With the same principle, you can record the results of every iteration in a 3-D matrix, with the third dimension as the index for the iteration.