# max

## Purpose

Maximum elements of a matrix.

## Synopsis

    y = max(X)
    [y,i] = max(X)
    C = max(A,B)

## Description

For vectors, `max(X)` is the largest element in `X`. For matrices, `max(X)` is a row vector containing the maximum element from each column and `max(max(X))` is the largest element in the entire matrix.

`[y,i]` =`max(X)` stores the indices of the maximum values in vector `i`. If there are several identical maximum values, the index of the first one found is returned.

`C = max(A,B)` returns a matrix the same size as `A` and `B` with the largest elements taken from `A` or `B`.

For complex input `X`, `max` returns the complex number with the largest modulus, computed with `max(abs(X))`.

If any element of the matrix is a `NaN`, `max` returns `NaN.` To test for this occurrence, use the function `isnan.`

## Examples

Start with `A = magic(3)`:

    A =
        8    1    6
        3    5    7
        4    9    2

Then `max(A)` is the vector

        8    9    7

and `max(max(A))` is scalar

        9

Furthermore, `[m,i] = max(A)` produces

     m =
        8    9    7

     i =
        1    3    2

## See Also

    isnan, min, sort

(c) Copyright 1994 by The MathWorks, Inc.