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Simple examples: Difference between revisions
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greek alpha and omega → apl alpha and omega (regular greek letters return a syntax error in Dyalog APL)
m (→Method B) |
(greek alpha and omega → apl alpha and omega (regular greek letters return a syntax error in Dyalog APL)) |
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Here is an APL program to calculate the average (arithmetic mean) of a list of numbers, written as a [[dfn]]: | Here is an APL program to calculate the average (arithmetic mean) of a list of numbers, written as a [[dfn]]: | ||
<source lang=apl> | <source lang=apl> | ||
{(+ | {(+⌿⍵)÷≢⍵} | ||
</source> | </source> | ||
It is unnamed: the enclosing braces mark it as a function definition. It can be assigned a name for use later, or used anonymously in a more complex expression. | It is unnamed: the enclosing braces mark it as a function definition. It can be assigned a name for use later, or used anonymously in a more complex expression. | ||
The <source lang=apl inline> | The <source lang=apl inline>⍵</source> refers to the argument of the function, a list (or 1-dimensional array) of numbers. The <source lang=apl inline>≢</source> denotes the [[tally]] function, which returns here the length of (number of elements in) the argument <source lang=apl inline>⍵</source>. The divide symbol <source lang=apl inline>÷</source> has its usual meaning. | ||
The parenthesised <source lang=apl inline>+ | The parenthesised <source lang=apl inline>+⌿⍵</source> denotes the sum of all the elements of <source lang=apl inline>⍵</source>. The <source lang=apl inline>⌿</source> operator combines with the <source lang=apl inline>+</source> function: the <source lang=apl inline>⌿</source> fixes the <source lang=apl inline>+</source> function between each element of <source lang=apl inline>⍵</source>, so that | ||
<source lang=apl> | <source lang=apl> | ||
+⌿ 1 2 3 4 5 6 | +⌿ 1 2 3 4 5 6 | ||
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[[Operator]]s like <source lang=apl inline>⌿</source> can be used to derive new functions not only from [[primitive function]]s like <source lang=apl inline>+</source>, but also from defined functions. For example | [[Operator]]s like <source lang=apl inline>⌿</source> can be used to derive new functions not only from [[primitive function]]s like <source lang=apl inline>+</source>, but also from defined functions. For example | ||
<source lang=apl> | <source lang=apl> | ||
{ | {⍺,', ',⍵}⌿ | ||
</source> | </source> | ||
will transform a list of strings representing words into a comma-separated list: | will transform a list of strings representing words into a comma-separated list: | ||
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└────────────────────┘ | └────────────────────┘ | ||
</source> | </source> | ||
So back to our mean example. <source lang=apl inline>(+ | So back to our mean example. <source lang=apl inline>(+⌿⍵)</source> gives the sum of the list, which is then divided by <source lang=apl inline>≢⍵</source>, the number elements in it. | ||
<source lang=apl> | <source lang=apl> | ||
{(+⌿) | {(+⌿)÷≢⍵} 3 4.5 7 21 | ||
8.875 | 8.875 | ||
</source> | </source> | ||