Re: Not[OddQ] is not the same as EvenQ (sometimes)
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg3911] Re: Not[OddQ] is not the same as EvenQ (sometimes)
- From: roth at sunny.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de (Arnd Roth)
- Date: Sun, 5 May 1996 23:13:04 -0400
- Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Medizinische Forschung
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
In article <4m1hq2$pq4 at dragonfly.wolfram.com>
"Arnold Seiken" <SEIKENA at gar.union.edu> writes:
> 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?
The differences can be easily explained by noting that
In[1]:= Options[Position]
Out[1]= {Heads -> True}
In[2]:= Options[Count]
Out[2]= {Heads -> False}
and
In[3]:= Attributes[NumberQ]
Out[3]= {Protected}
In[4]:= Attributes[Positive]
Out[4]= {Listable, Protected}
and the the fact that EvenQ[] and NonNegativeQ[] also
behave differently on the Head List:
In[5]:= EvenQ[List]
Out[5]= False
In[6]:= NonNegative[List]
Out[6]= NonNegative[List]
(Negative and NonNegative are also Listable.)
Try wrapping your inputs in Trace[] to see what
happens depending on the Option for Position. I'm
reluctant to put the Trace output here because it
is a bit long.
Sincerely,
Arnd Roth
Abteilung Zellphysiologie
Max-Planck-Insitut fuer Medizinische Forschung
Postfach 10 38 20, D-69028 Heidelberg, Germany
http://sunny.mpimf-heidelberg.mpg.de/people/roth/ArndRoth.html
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