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Why does Through unpack?

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg125587] Why does Through unpack?
• From: Szabolcs <szhorvat at gmail.com>
• Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:20:32 -0500 (EST)
• Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com

Consider the following example:

On["Packing"]

dat = RandomInteger[1*^7, {5000000, 2}];

Max /@ Transpose[dat]; // AsboluteTiming

Note that the array is only unpacked to level 1, so Max is fast.

Now let's get both the Min and the Max:

Through /@ {Min, Max} /@ Transpose[dat]; // AbsoluteTiming

Now the full array is unpacked, significantly hurting performance.

Question:

Why is it necessary to unpack the array when using Through?  Here it doesn't seem to be.  Is it a design decision that Through unpacks, or is it an over sight?  Through does not touch the function argument (it only affects the head), I don't see why it would need to unpack it.

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Why does Through unpack?
    • From: DrMajorBob <btreat1@austin.rr.com>