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Re: RE: Product


Sorry, I was completly blind when I did the timings.
Looking at the results again it is a clear as can be that Times @@  
mytestlist  is almost an order of magnitude faster then  
Exp[Total[Log[mytestlist]]]. So at this time I cna see now way to  
multiply faster than with Times.

Andrzej Kozlowski



On 12 Apr 2008, at 23:03, Andrzej Kozlowski wrote:
> The reason for the speed of Total unlike Plus is that it does not  
> need to unpack packed arrays. Here is how you can see what happens.
>
> SetSystemOptions["PackedArrayOptions" -> {"UnpackMessage" -> True}];
>
> mytestlist = Table[RandomInteger[{1, 9}], {1000000}];
> Developer`PackedArrayQ[mytestlist]
> True
>
> So mytestlist is a packed array. Now let's see what happens if we  
> add it up using Plus:
>
> In[4]:= Plus @@ mytestlist
> During evaluation of In[4]:= Developer`FromPackedArray::"unpack1" :  
> "Unpacking array."
> During evaluation of In[4]:= Developer`FromPackedArray::"punpack1" :  
> "Unpacking array to
> Out[4]= 4998322
>
> Now the same with Total:
>
> In[5]:= Total[mytestlist]
> Out[5]= 4998322
>
> It is the unpacking of packed arrays by Plus that makes adding up  
> this list using Plus much slower.
> As for multiplying: I can't think of any way to multiply the  
> elements of a list without unpacking. However, if, as in your  
> example, the list contains only positive numbers the following will  
> still beat Times (though not by much):
>
> Timing[b = Exp[Total[Log[mytestlist]]]; ]
> During evaluation of In[3]:= Developer`FromPackedArray::"unpack1" :  
> "Unpacking array."
> During evaluation of In[3]:= Developer`FromPackedArray::"unpack" :  
> "Unpacking array in call to   Log
> {2.0021780000000007, Null}
>
> while
>
> In[4]:= Timing[a = Times @@ mytestlist; ]
> During evaluation of In[4]:= Developer`FromPackedArray::"unpack1" :  
> "Unpacking array."
> During evaluation of In[4]:= Developer`FromPackedArray::"punpack1" :  
> "Unpacking array to level 1
> {0.30934300000000015, Null}
>
> a == b
> True
>
> If there is a method of multiplying without unpacking it should be a  
> lot faster but at least at this moment I can't think of one.
>
> Andrzej Kozlowski
>
>
>
> On 12 Apr 2008, at 19:59, Jose Luis Gomez wrote:
>> (* Steven *)
>> (* I think it is an interesting question *)
>> (* See what happens when we compare total with other ways to add  
>> many small
>> integers *)
>>
>> (* First a test list:*)
>>
>> In[1]:= mytestlist = Table[RandomInteger[{1, 9}], {1000000}];
>>
>> (* add all the numbers in the list, and also report the computer  
>> time used
>> to calculate:*)
>>
>> In[2]:= Timing[Plus @@ mytestlist]
>>
>> Out[2]= {0.266, 5003966}
>>
>> (* AGAIN add all the numbers in the list, BUT THIS TIME USING TOTAL  
>> and also
>> report the computer time used to calculate:*)
>>
>> In[3]:= Timing[Total[mytestlist]]
>>
>> Out[3]= {0.031, 5003966}
>>
>> (* As you can see, for small integers, Total has a special  
>> algorithm that
>> that adds ten times faster than just add all the numbers in order*)
>> (* Therefore your question is equivalent to ask if there is an  
>> improved
>> algorithm to multiply numbers, and if that algorithm is implemented  
>> in a
>> special command in Mathematica, equivalent to Total*)
>>
>> (* I do not know the answer, while someone else answers this, you can
>> multiply the following way:*)
>>
>> In[4]:= Times @@ mytestlist
>>
>> (* large result deleted *)
>>
>> (* The following link might be interesting for you:*)
>> (* http://homepage.cem.itesm.mx/lgomez/matecmatica/fp/fp.html *)
>> (* http://homepage.cem.itesm.mx/lgomez/matecmatica/funcionalprog.nb  
>> *)
>>
>> (* Hope that helps *)
>> (* Jose *)
>> (* Mexico *)
>>
>> -----Mensaje original-----
>> De: Steven [mailto:steven_504 at telenet.be]
>> Enviado el: Viernes, 11 de Abril de 2008 12:43 a.m.
>> Para: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
>> Asunto: [mg87457] Product
>>
>> Silly beginner's question: is there a function to multiply all  
>> elements of a
>> list, like Total does for addition?
>> 'fraid I can't find it.
>> TIA
>>
>>
>>
>



  • References:
    • Product
      • From: "Steven" <steven_504@telenet.be>
    • RE: Product
      • From: "Jose Luis Gomez" <jose.luis.gomez@itesm.mx>
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