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subscripts in function definitions

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg105028] subscripts in function definitions
• From: Murat Tasan <mmuurr at gmail.com>
• Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:59:33 -0500 (EST)

hi, folks - i'm not very savvy with Mathematica, so i apologize in
advance if this is a silly question, but:

i'd like to define a function, say f, that takes the symbol Subscript
[x,L]_.

it's hard to replicate what i'm typing here, without the ability to
subscript, but basically i want an x with a subscript of L as the
entire variable. something like xL (only with the L sub-scripted).

when i try to enter this as a pattern in the function definition by
adding the trailing underscore, it attaches only to the L (in the
subscript), not to the whole x_L variable (thus making the pattern
only match "L").  if i move out of the subscript box and try to add
the trailing underscore at the "x" level, it becomes detached from the
whole expression.  so i tried creating the pattern explicitly, as so:

f[Subscript[x,L]_] := myfun

but also in this case the trailing underscore becomes non-associated
with the Subscript expression.

is there any way i can make x with a subscript of L the entire pattern
for a variable?

(hopefully this made some sense... hard to make clear what i'm
searching for in plain text!)

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: subscripts in function definitions
    • From: DrMajorBob <btreat1@austin.rr.com>