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Re: How to test if list of arguments are numeric

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg89545] Re: How to test if list of arguments are numeric
  • From: Jean-Marc Gulliet <jeanmarc.gulliet at gmail.com>
  • Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:59:57 -0400 (EDT)
  • Organization: The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
  • References: <g2nu84$ej1$1@smc.vnet.net>

Michael A. Gilchrist wrote:

> I'm trying to use a function with NMinimize and running into problems with 
> holding off its evaluation until NMinimize passes real values.  Essentially, I 
> have something like this
> 
> TestFunction[avec_]:=Module[{},
> ..
> ..
> ..
> ]
> 
> Where avec should be a list of real numbers.  I know that to ensure avec is a 
> list I use avec_?ListQ, but I need to ensure that avec is a list of real 
> numbers (not the symbols that NMinimizes passes).
> 
> Unfortunately, I have no idea what the correct syntax is.  Could someone 
> please clue me in on this?

The following should do it:

TestFunction[avec_?(VectorQ[#, NumericQ] &)]:=Module[{},
..
..
..
]

See "How do I write a function which evaluates only when the argument is 
a number?" at

http://support.wolfram.com/mathematica/kernel/features/evalwhennumber.html

Regards,
-- Jean-Marc


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