RE: Functions of Functions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg49631] RE: [mg49598] Functions of Functions
- From: "David Park" <djmp at earthlink.net>
- Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 02:55:34 -0400 (EDT)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Michael, I always find this kind of thing difficult and maybe others will give you a more direct method. There is a package at my web site called Algebra`PushThrough` that is useful for working with operators. It basically extends the Through command. But I only use one routine from it, which I reproduce here. PushOnto::usage = "PushOnto[argslist, ontolist][expr] is a form of the Through command that \ pushes arguments only onto forms given in the ontolist.\n\ PushOnto[ontolist][(head)[args]] pushes args onto forms given in the \ ontolist"; PushOnto[argslist_List, ontolist_List][expr_] := Module[{onto = Alternatives @@ ontolist}, expr /. (h_ /; ¬ FreeQ[h, onto]) @@ argslist :> (h /. a_ /; MatchQ[a, onto] -> a @@ argslist) ] PushOnto[ontolist_List][(head_)[arglist___]] := Module[{onto = Alternatives @@ ontolist}, head /. a_ /; MatchQ[a, onto] :> a[arglist] ] Then I would do your case as follows... Clear[a, b, c, f] a := Function[x, Sin[x] + x^2/2]; b[f_] := Derivative[2][f] + 3/2Derivative[1][f] + 5f; c[x_] := b[a][x] // PushOnto[{Function[__]}] c[x] // Simplify (1/2)*(2 + 3*x + 5*x^2 + 3*Cos[x] + 8*Sin[x]) David Park djmp at earthlink.net http://home.earthlink.net/~djmp/ From: Michael J Person [mailto:mjperson at mit.edu] To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help me with this. I've gone through the book and help files as best I can, but can't seem to figure out why the following doesn't work: I'm trying to work with functions that take functions as parameters and return other functions. Below is an example... (*clear stuff*) Clear[a, b, c, x] (*Define a functions a*) \!\(a[x_] := \((Sin[x] + x\^3\/2)\)\) (*define a function of functions*) \!\(b[f_] = \((f'' + \(3\ f'\)\/2 + 5 f)\)\) (*apply the functional function to a*) c = b[a] (*Try to apply the resulting function to something*) c[x] This last step never gives me the results I'd expect by applying the derivatives of a to x... Can anyone tell me where I've gone horribly wrong? Thanks much, MJ Person mjperson at mit.edu