Re: Function definition within a module (about variable renaming)
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg79695] Re: Function definition within a module (about variable renaming)
- From: "Zeng.Shixin at gmail.com" <Zeng.Shixin at gmail.com>
- Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 03:46:09 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <f8n20f$khj$1@smc.vnet.net><f8pkh3$3kj$1@smc.vnet.net>
On Aug 1, 3:41 am, Jean-Marc Gulliet <jeanmarc.gull... at gmail.com>
wrote:
> Zeng.Shi... at gmail.com wrote:
> > I have following code:
>
> > fun[] := Module[{a},
> > a = {3x};
> > f1[x_] = a[[1]]; (*change this line to f1[x_] = 3x, it works
> > fine (no variable renaming) *)
> > ];
>
> > Then I try to find out the definition about f1, I got:
>
> > ?f1
> > Global`f1
> > f1[x$_] = 3 x
>
> > I think It should be "f1[x_] = 3 x" instead. I just can't understand
> > why the variable x in f1 was renamed to x$. I went to the help system,
> > but I didn't find any useful information.
>
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> I believe you have found a bug for the symbol x has no reason to be
> localized in the code you provided.
>
> Even though the localization has to be done for whatever mysterious
> reason, x$ is not a correct name for a local symbol that is
> automatically generated by Mathematica. Local symbols are constructed
> according to the following pattern: name_of_the_symbol + $ +
> a_sequence_number, i.e. a$38, x$39 are valid local symbols [1].
>
That's exactly what I think.
> Here, the spurious half-baked localization creates in the Global context
> a lasting temporary symbol named x$.
>
> In[1]:=
> Clear[fun, f1, x]
> fun[] := Module[{a}, a = {3*x};
> f1[x_] = (x = 3; a[[1]]); f1[2]];
> fun[]
>
> Out[3]=
> 3*x
>
> In[4]:=
> Information["f1", LongForm -> False]
>
> f1
>
> f1[x$_] = 3*x
>
> In[5]:=
> Information["x$", LongForm -> False]
>
> x$
>
> Attributes[x$] = {Temporary}
>
> x$ = 3
Thanks for your information. I think I should try to work around it.
>
> Regards,
> Jean-Marc
>
> [1]http://reference.wolfram.com/mathematica/tutorial/HowModulesWork.html