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Re: assigning functions

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg56236] Re: assigning functions
• From: dh <dh at metrohm.ch>
• Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 05:30:10 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <d42kom$3c8$1@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hi juergen,
see below:

juejung wrote:
> dear all,
> 
> i would like to do the following.
> assign a function:
> f[x_] := x^2;
> 
> take its derivate:
> D[f[x], x]
> 
> and assign the result of this to a new function, like fprime[x]:
> fprime[x_] := D[f[x], x]

":=" tells Mathematica to delay evaluation of the derivative. If you later use 
e.g. fprime[2], Mathematica replace x by 2 in your expression giving: D[f[2], 2] 
what is wrong.
What you want is to evaluate the derivative at define-time, d.h.:
fprime[x_] = D[f[x], x]

Sincerely, Daniel
> 
> unfortunately that doesn't work.
> when i try to evaluate fprime[2] i get an error message.
> 
> can somebody please help, this haunts me for a while now.
> 
> thanks and all the best
> 
> juergen
>