Re: Scoping and named patterns
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg18179] Re: Scoping and named patterns
- From: "Allan Hayes" <hay at haystack.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 23:54:35 -0400
- References: <7kcjrn$lql@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Here is my reading of what is happening
n = 2; x = 3;
f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]
p[3, 2]
Because p[x,a] evaluates before the scoping is implemented..
But
n = 2; x = 3;
f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] :> p[x, n]
p[a^b, b]
Module[{x, n}, f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]]
p[3, 2]
Because Module is Hold All the scoping is done with f[x:_^n_]->p[x,n]
unevaluated,
This means that its x an n are bound. They are therefore not replaced by
x$k, n$k and the evaluation of f[a^b]/.f[x:_^n_]->p[x,n] is as above.
The evaluation below comes to the same; since Clear[x,n] becomes
Clear[x$k,n$k]
Module[{x, n}, Clear[x, n]; f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]]
Allan
---------------------
Allan Hayes
Mathematica Training and Consulting
Leicester UK
www.haystack.demon.co.uk
hay at haystack.demon.co.uk
Voice: +44 (0)116 271 4198
Fax: +44 (0)870 164 0565
p[3, 2]
Dr Dan <drdanw at my-deja.com> wrote in message news:7kcjrn$lql at smc.vnet.net...
> I am having trouble with name conflicts between global symbols and
> named patterns.
>
> This example from The Book works fine:
>
> In[1]:= f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]
> Out[1]= p[a^b, b]
>
> But if the symbols used as pattern names have values:
>
> In[3]:= n = 2; x = 3;
> f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]
> Out[3]= p[3, 2]
>
> My usual favorite scoping structure, Module, doesn't help:
>
> In[4]:= Module[{x, n}, f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]]
> Out[4]= p[3, 2]
>
> This shows that the global symbol is used as the pattern name and not
> the symbol local to the scoping construct:
>
> In[5]:= Module[{x, n}, Clear[x, n]; f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]]
> Out[5]= p[3, 2]
>
> Since local symbols are ignored, it is necessary to use Block:
>
> In[6]:= Block[{x, n}, f[a^b] /. f[x : _^n_] -> p[x, n]]
> Out[6]= p[a^b, b]
>
> This looks like a bug to me. If I use a symbol in a local context I
> expect the local symbol and never the global. I am a little concerned
> that the pattern itself doesn't scope its pattern names, that I can
> make one seemingly small change in my notebook and my patterned
> replacements begin crashing.
>
> Any comments, or a better workaround than Block?
>
>
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>