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Groups > comp.soft-sys.math.mathematica > #16632

Re: Do we need a When function?

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Use NumberQ

For example:

f[x_?NumberQ] := x^3

Helen Read
University of Vermont



On 3/8/2014 2:42 AM, David Bailey wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> Recently I wanted to create an expression that only evaluated when x was
> a number. Obviously, one way to do that is to write something like:
>
>    If[x<1000000000000,f[x]]
>
> This will stay unevaluated until x is assigned to a number - as required
> - but it is very ugly because it makes it hard to understand what is
> going on.
>
> More generally, it would be nice to write an expression that will only
> evaluate when an expression is true. I solved that by writing a function
> When:
>
> SetAttributes[When, HoldAll];
> When[cond_, val_] := val /; cond
>
> However, my point is that this construction is sufficiently useful that
> it should be built in to Mathematica, and my solution might not be
> obvious to all users.
>
> Am I missing a simpler solution?
>
> Do others agree that this is an omission in the language?
>
> David Bailey
> http://www.dbaileyconsultancy.co.uk
>

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Thread

Do we need a When function? David Bailey <dave@removedbailey.co.uk> - 2014-03-08 07:42 +0000
  Re: Do we need a When function? Szabolcs Horvát <szhorvat@gmail.com> - 2014-03-10 08:38 +0000
    Re: Do we need a When function? David Bailey <dave@removedbailey.co.uk> - 2014-03-11 07:17 +0000
  Re: Do we need a When function? Helen Read <readhpr@gmail.com> - 2014-03-10 08:41 +0000
  Re: Do we need a When function? Szabolcs Horvát <szhorvat@gmail.com> - 2014-04-11 06:09 +0000
    Re: Do we need a When function? David Bailey <dave@removedbailey.co.uk> - 2014-04-13 09:26 +0000

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