Re: := vs = in some function definitions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg113277] Re: := vs = in some function definitions
- From: Andrea <btlgs2000 at gmail.com>
- Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:04:30 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <i9m7u7$j41$1@smc.vnet.net>
On Oct 20, 10:06 am, Sam Takoy <sam.ta... at yahoo.com> wrote: > Hi, > > Have read everything I could find regarding delayed assignment, I'm > still not quite sure when to use which. > > For example, in the definition > > f[x_] = IdentityMatrix[50].Append[Range[1, 49], x]; > > could there ever be any reason to use := ? > > It seems that using := will condemn the function to repeated ext= ra > work every time its called. So could there be a situation where the use > of ":=" for the above function is recommended? > > Many thanks in advance, > > Sam Multiplying vector Append[Range[1, 49], x] with IdentityMatrix[50] is useless cause you simply obtain Append[Range[1, 49], x]. Apart from this, considering your definition as a contrived example, the = is in this case more efficient than := cause IdentityMatrix[50] is calculated only once and so the multiplication and I see no convenience in using :=