Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg120786] Re: Just another Mathematica "Gotcha"
- From: Roger Wilson <rogerhw999 at gmail.com>
- Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:27:09 -0400 (EDT)
- Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com
- References: <j1r5d3$fi4$1@smc.vnet.net>
On Aug 9, 12:24 pm, AES <sieg... at stanford.edu> wrote: > Seems as if the following two expression should yield the same output > -- seems that way to me anyway -- but they don't. I'll hide the > actual outputs down below so Mathematica gurus (or "ordinary users") > can make their predictions as to which one does what. > > In[1]:= Series[a+(b1+b2)x,{x,0,1}] //Normal /.{b2->0} > > In[2]:= Series[a+(b1+b2)x,{x,0,1}] /.{b2->0} //Normal > > My conclusions: > > 1) By any normal rules of interpretation or ordinary interpretations > of these statements, they both should do the same same thing. > > 2) This is just another Mathematica "Gotcha" -- and not a > particularly forgivable one. > > Out[1]= a+(b1+b2) x > > Out[2]= a+b1 x Its a case of operator priority. /. has a higher priority than // so, in the first case, you're doing Normal /. {b2->0} first which evaluates to Normal. (Series[a+(b1+b2)x,{x,0,1}]//Normal)/.b2->0 gives a+b1 x