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Re: negative pattern matching anyone?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg43723] Re: negative pattern matching anyone?
• From: Paul Abbott <paul at physics.uwa.edu.au>
• Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 02:51:18 -0400 (EDT)
• Organization: The University of Western Australia
• References: <blcqqj$p8h$1@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

In article <blcqqj$p8h$1 at smc.vnet.net>,
 Paolo Bientinesi <pauldj at cs.utexas.edu> wrote:

> Hello,
> could anyone explain me why -3 is different from -a in the
> following situation, please?
> 
> h[-x_] := Abs[x]
> h[x_]  := x^2
> 
> now, 
> 
> k[-3] = 9
> k[-a] = Abs[a]
> 
> I guess the answer con be found in the FullForm:
> 
> FullForm[-a] = Times[-1,a]
> FullForm[-x_] = Times[-1,Pattern[x,Blank[]]]
> 
> while FullForm[-3] = -3
> 
> 
> Then, is there a way to match both -3 and -a with the same pattern?

Yes -- use Sign:

   h[x_] := Abs[-x] /; Sign[x] == -1
   h[x_] := x^2

Cheers,
Paul

-- 
Paul Abbott                                   Phone: +61 8 9380 2734
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