An operator called-- LocalSet
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg13835] An operator called-- LocalSet
- From: "Ersek, Ted R" <ErsekTR at navair.navy.mil>
- Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 04:41:13 -0400
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Recall my recent message describing a function I made called LocalRule. I indicated I wrote a similar function called LocalSet. In this message I present this function. Suppose you want to define a function such as in the next two lines. Using (lhs=rhs) is efficient because the integral is only done when the definition is made. However, if (x) has a numerical global value you get an error message because you end up integrating with respect to a constant. You don't have to worry about global values of (x) if you use (lhs:=rhs), but then something like ( a=2; Plot[f[x],{x,2,8}] ) will take a very, very long time because the integral is worked out for every sample! (* Efficient, but risk trouble from global values for (x). *) f[x_] = Integrate[Log[a Sqrt[x]+x^2],x]; (* Inefficient, but global values for (x) are irrelevant. *) f[x_] := Integrate[Log[a Sqrt[x]+x^2],x]; I wrote a function LocalSet (infix operator \[DotEqual] ) to give the best of both worlds. The program is given below. _____________________ LocalSet=DotEqual; SetAttributes[DotEqual,HoldAll]; DotEqual[lhs_,rhs_]:=Module[{b1,b2},( b1=Cases[Unevaluated at lhs,_Pattern,{0,*},Heads->True]; If[b1==={},(Unevaluated at lhs:=Evaluate at rhs),( b1=Extract[#,1,Hold]& /@b1; b1=Thread[b1,Hold]; b2=Hold[#:=Evaluate at rhs]& @@{Unevaluated at lhs}; Block@@Join[b1,b2] )] )] (* extra parentheses for clarity *) _____________________ In[1]:= Clear[f1,f2,a,g]; x=3; _____________________ At In[2] and In[3] the right hand side evaluates without using the global value for (x). In[2]:= f1[x_] \[DotEqual] Integrate[Log[a Sqrt[x]+x^2],x]; ?f1 "Global`f1" f1[x_] := -2*x + Sqrt[3]*a^(2/3)*ArcTan[(-a^(1/3) + 2*Sqrt[x])/(Sqrt[3]*a^(1/3))] - a^(2/3)*Log[a^(1/3) + Sqrt[x]] + (a^(2/3)*Log[a^(2/3) - a^(1/3)*Sqrt[x] + x])/2 + x*Log[a*Sqrt[x] + x^2] ____________________ In[3]:= LocalSet[f2[x_],Integrate[Log[Sqrt[x]],x]]; ?f2 "Global`f2" f2[x_] := -x/2 + x*Log[Sqrt[x]] At In[4] (x) isn't used as a pattern, so the global value (x=3) is used. _____________________ In[4]:= gUx^2+a; g* Sqrt[5]//InputForm Out[4]//InputForm= Sqrt[5]*(9 + a) ________________________ I had another version of this program earlier that didn't use Heads->True inside Cases, and had an extra Hold at the end. Alan Hayes recommended such changes to the LocalRule program I recently sent in. I implemented those recommendations in this program. Please let me know if you see any problems with this program or any ways to improve it. Ted Ersek