Re: Rule-based programming: declare variables to be a number
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg80853] Re: Rule-based programming: declare variables to be a number
- From: David Bailey <dave at Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
- Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 03:45:49 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <fb83lf$82d$1@smc.twtelecom.net> <200709020651.CAA25850@smc.twtelecom.net> <fbgmuq$9d7$1@smc.vnet.net>
Andrzej Kozlowski wrote: > On 2 Sep 2007, at 08:51, David Bailey wrote: > >> As others have commented, it is not a good idea to write code like >> NumericQ[g]=True because this changes the basic operation of >> Mathematica. For example, such code might work OK until you try to >> combine it with some more code that needs NumericQ for something else! >> >> David Bailey >> http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk > > > Who are the "others"? > Anyway, I completely disagree with this statement in this particular > context. > > NumericQ has clearly been designed with this in mind. Note, for > example, that althou NumericQ is Protected, a definition like > > NumericQ[a]=True > > does not require unprotecting NumericQ. Moreover, it does not add a > DownValue to NumericQ. > > NumericQ[g] = True; > DownValues[NumericQ] > {} > > > There are plenty of other reasons to believe that all all > theseproperties of NumericQ are designed precisely for this type of > use. Besides, I have another reason to think that no probems of the > kind you are imagining would happen in this case: I have been using > NumericQ inprecisly this way for about 10 years in numerous notebooks > without any problems. > > Note alo the post from Carl Woll which, I think, can be regarded as > an "offcial" WRI authorization for this kind of usage ;-) > > (However, note also that using Carl's definition: > > In[19]:= g /: NumericQ[g] = True; > > Dos not actually add an UpValue to g: > > UpValues[g] > {} > > and I don't think it has any advantage over the more straightforward > > NumericQ[g] = True; > > > I am sure all this is deliberate design, and even though it may not > be easy to explain, it is very convenient. > > Andrzej Kozlowski > Lets not quarrel about this - but my point was that it is probably easier to specify the set of objects that don't commute rather than specify everything else that is an ordinary variable! In general, I don't like to extend the built-in functions unless absolutely necessary (as dh mentioned) - it just creates trouble when you combine several pieces of code together. Why not just define a spinMatrixQ predicate? Also, it is not clear from the original question, if 'multiplication' is represented by Times - if it is, the expressions will get sorted regardless of NumericQ! David Bailey http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk
- References:
- Re: Rule-based programming: declare variables to be a number
- From: David Bailey <dave@Remove_Thisdbailey.co.uk>
- Re: Rule-based programming: declare variables to be a number