# Create function with pre-specified and optional additional options

I am trying to get my head around Options, OptionsPattern, etc. - I have looked e.g. here and here but am still struggling.

Say I want to create a "customised" version of FullSimplify, (call it fs) which is supposed to

1. always use a certain set of assumptions
2. allow for the input of additional assumptions.

Example: always assume a<0, sometimes add b>0. So the desired result would be:

Column[{
FullSimplify[Sqrt[a^2]],
fs[Sqrt[a^2]],
fs[Sqrt[a^2 b^2],
fs[Sqrt[a^2 b^2],{b>0}]
}]


Sqrt[a]
-a
-a Sqrt[b]
-a b

Now my question is how to define fs(and the "default" assumption) properly. My (lousy) current attempt is something like

std:={a<0}; (* or "=" instead? *)
Options[fs]=OptionsPattern[Assumptions -> {a < 0}];
(* do I need to parse the other options of FullSimplify as well? *)
fs[x_,opts:OptionsPattern[]]:=FullSimplify[x,...]
(* how do I add the option {b>0} s.t. it becomes an _additional_ assumption? *)


If you don't need to specify default options for fs independently from those of FullSimplify, you could do
Options[fs] = {Assumptions :> a < 0 && $Assumptions}; fs[expr_, assum_ : {}, opts : OptionsPattern[]] := FullSimplify[expr, assum, Join[{opts}, Options[fs]]] {FullSimplify[Sqrt[a^2]], fs[Sqrt[a^2]], fs[Sqrt[a^2 b^2]], fs[Sqrt[a^2 b^2], {b > 0}]} (* {Sqrt[a^2], -a, -a Sqrt[b^2], -a b} *)  If you do want to be able to define all of the default options of fs independently, you can instead set Options[fs] = Options[FullSimplify] /. (Assumptions :> _) -> (Assumptions :> a < 0 &&$Assumptions)
(* {Assumptions :> a < 0 && $Assumptions, ComplexityFunction -> Automatic, ExcludedForms -> {}, TimeConstraint -> \[Infinity], TransformationFunctions -> Automatic, Trig -> True} *)  with the other function definitions as before. Then you could have something like SetOptions[fs, TimeConstraint -> 1] (* {Assumptions :> a < 0 &&$Assumptions, ComplexityFunction -> Automatic, ExcludedForms -> {},

• Thank you! Since I don't need to specify further options, your first solution does just fine. Just to be sure: I don't need to add anything like SetAttributes[fs,HoldRest] to ensure the assumption assum doesn't get evaluated too early? – Bernd Nov 16 '16 at 9:25
• Well, FullSimplify doesn't have HoldRest, so I don't think adding it to fs will make any difference. If you're wondering about the use of RuleDelayed in the Assumptions option, I think that's to allow the value of the variable \$Assumptions to be changed after the default option is defined. – Simon Rochester Nov 16 '16 at 10:10