Attributes modify the behavior of entire classes of functions. Some Attributes cause functions to have well-known mathematical properties such as commutativity, associativity, or idempotency, notably for valid pattern-matching. Others control the way the Wolfram Language evaluates or does not evaluate a function's arguments, which if you study that you will see is at the very core of Wolfram Language operation.
Listable is a valuable functional language Attribute since it incorporates Thread into a function so it automatically maps over a List and instead of taking a List apart, we apply a function to it as a gestalt.
NumericFunction is an Attribute of all Wolfram Language mathematical functions and is True when all of their arguments are numerical. I suspect it is integral to the interaction of many functions with the underlying knowledge base of Mathematica and therefore to many functions' valid behavior (e.g. Piecewise – always define piecewise mathematical functions with Piecewise).
OneIdentity is the mathematical property of idempotency, which dictates that applying a function any number of times to its argument (i.e. Nest) returns the argument unchanged. Examples are adding zero to any number, or multiplying any number by one, or raising any number to 1st or 0th power (except 0 - someone explain that inconsistency to me!).
0^0
During evaluation of In[549]:= Power::indet: Indeterminate expression 0^0 encountered. >>
Out[549]= Indeterminate
The Doc Center says that OneIdentity is necessary for pattern-matching to work with the default of Times, Plus, and Power, which is a period. I.e., x_+ y_. => x + 0, x_ * y_. => x * 1, and x_^y_. => x^1.
MatchQ[x, Times[n_. , x_]]
True
You can see that OneIdentity removes nested Heads. It says to the evaluator, 'If the given pattern x_ matches any of these patterns, return True.'
a+b+c/.x_:>u/;Print@FullForm[Plus[x]//HoldForm]
HoldForm[Plus[Plus[a,b,c]]]
HoldForm[Plus[Plus]]
HoldForm[Plus[a]]
HoldForm[Plus[b]]
HoldForm[Plus[c]]
a+b+c
Here are related posts on Flat and Orderless. This post shows how to reveal all built-in functions with a given Attribute, categorized by the Attribute.
This is an excellent out-of-print book but there is plenty to learn from it. I'd compare it to David Wagner's Power Programming in Mathematica in its insight to how the Wolfram Language works.
Bahder, Thomas B. Mathematica for Scientists and Engineers. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. 1994.
Listable is a valuable functional language Attribute since it incorporates Thread into a function so it automatically maps over a List and instead of taking a List apart, we apply a function to it as a gestalt.
NumericFunction is an Attribute of all Wolfram Language mathematical functions and is True when all of their arguments are numerical. I suspect it is integral to the interaction of many functions with the underlying knowledge base of Mathematica and therefore to many functions' valid behavior (e.g. Piecewise – always define piecewise mathematical functions with Piecewise).
Attribute: OneIdentity
OneIdentity is the mathematical property of idempotency, which dictates that applying a function any number of times to its argument (i.e. Nest) returns the argument unchanged. Examples are adding zero to any number, or multiplying any number by one, or raising any number to 1st or 0th power (except 0 - someone explain that inconsistency to me!).
0^0
During evaluation of In[549]:= Power::indet: Indeterminate expression 0^0 encountered. >>
Out[549]= Indeterminate
The Doc Center says that OneIdentity is necessary for pattern-matching to work with the default of Times, Plus, and Power, which is a period. I.e., x_+ y_. => x + 0, x_ * y_. => x * 1, and x_^y_. => x^1.
MatchQ[x, Times[n_. , x_]]
True
You can see that OneIdentity removes nested Heads. It says to the evaluator, 'If the given pattern x_ matches any of these patterns, return True.'
a+b+c/.x_:>u/;Print@FullForm[Plus[x]//HoldForm]
HoldForm[Plus[Plus[a,b,c]]]
HoldForm[Plus[Plus]]
HoldForm[Plus[a]]
HoldForm[Plus[b]]
HoldForm[Plus[c]]
a+b+c
Here are related posts on Flat and Orderless. This post shows how to reveal all built-in functions with a given Attribute, categorized by the Attribute.
This is an excellent out-of-print book but there is plenty to learn from it. I'd compare it to David Wagner's Power Programming in Mathematica in its insight to how the Wolfram Language works.
Bahder, Thomas B. Mathematica for Scientists and Engineers. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. 1994.
The default value of Plus is 0 not 1, so in your example should read x_+y_.=>x+0 not x+1
ReplyDeleteAh - thank you! Fixed.
ReplyDelete