Re: Replace non-numeric values in a list
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg88767] Re: Replace non-numeric values in a list
- From: dr DanW <dmaxwarren at gmail.com>
- Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 05:30:44 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <g0h825$mtr$1@smc.vnet.net>
> I have a list that contains numeric and non-numeric values > list = { a, 1, 2, b, 3}; > How can I replace non-numeric values with zeros? This is the kind of thing the Mathematica does extremely well. At the core of Mathematica is a very sophisticated pattern matching engine around which everything else is built, so you want to take advantage of that system as often and directly as possible. Here is one solution: ZeroNonNumeric[ (n_)?NumericQ ] := n; ZeroNonNumeric[ _ ] := 0; Map[ ZeroNonNumeric, {a, 1, 2, b, 3} ] Out[1]= {0, 1, 2, 0, 3} The first version of the function says that any for pattern for which the predicate NumericQ[] returns False, throw back that pattern. The second version says to return 0 for anything else. Mathematica will always try the more specific patterns first, then try more general patterns. Finally, I Map that function over the list. Why do I use Map instead of ZeroNonNumeric[ {a, 1, 2, b, 3} ] ? Simple: the list itself is not a number. By Map'ping, I make sure that only the elements of the list get checked, not the list itself. There are more code-efficient ways of solving this, which all look like perl code having a bad hair day. This solution spells out exactly its intent, which is good practice in any language.