Re: := vs = in some function definitions
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg113291] Re: := vs = in some function definitions
- From: Albert Retey <awnl at gmx-topmail.de>
- Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:36:12 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <i9m7u7$j41$1@smc.vnet.net>
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 extra > work every time its called. So could there be a situation where the use > of ":=" for the above function is recommended? I think there have been many good answers to your question already, but if you are interested in what is going on I think it worth to mention that a function definition is nothing but a definition of a global replacement rule in Mathematica. And of course you can look at these rules and that might be interesting if you try to understand what Set and SetDelayed actually do (so no more guessing is needed). Have a look at the DownValues (or OwnValues) to see what happens in the two cases: f[x_] = IdentityMatrix[50].Append[Range[1, 49], x]; DownValues[f] g[x_] := IdentityMatrix[50].Append[Range[1, 49], x]; DownValues[g] it is instructive to also evaluate this: x = 1 f[x_] = IdentityMatrix[50].Append[Range[1, 49], x]; DownValues[f] hth, albert