Not[OddQ] is not the same as EvenQ (sometimes)
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg3885] Not[OddQ] is not the same as EvenQ (sometimes)
- From: "Arnold Seiken" <SEIKENA at gar.union.edu>
- Date: Sat, 4 May 1996 23:21:45 -0400
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Dear Mathematica experts, Position[{2,3,4,5,6,7}, x_?(EvenQ[#]&)] {{1}, {3}, {5}} Position[{2,3,4,5,6,7}, x_?(!OddQ[#]&)] {{0}, {1}, {3}, {5}} Therefore, for this example, the pattern x_?(EvenQ[#]&) is not equivalent to the pattern x_?(!OddQ[#]&). The latter matches with the head List of {2,3,4,5,6,7}, the former does not. But Position[{-2,3,4,-5,6,7}, x_?(NonNegative[#]&)] {{2}, {3}, {5}, {6}} Position[{-2,3,4,-5,6,7}, x_?(!Negative[#]&)] {{2}, {3}, {5}, {6}} shows that the Head List is sometimes ignored by Position. Finally Position[{1,3,5}, x_?(!OddQ[#]&)] {{0}} Position[{2,3,4,5,6,7}, x_?(!NumberQ[#]&)] {{0}, {}} Position[{2,3,4,5,6,7}, x_?(!Positive[#]&)] {} seems to show that there are really three possible outcomes when using Not in a pattern involving the Position command. This does not occur for either the Count or Cases command where you get what you expect to get. Count[{1,3,5,7}, x_?(EvenQ[#]&)] 0 Count[{1,3,5,7}, x_?(!OddQ[#]&)] 0 Any explanations? Arnold Seiken ==== [MESSAGE SEPARATOR] ====