# Pattern matching failed [closed]

I want to replace Θ[z + m τ] by a[m] Θ[z]. So I consider the pattern Θ[z_ + m_ τ]:> a[m] Θ[z]. It works for almost all value of m, however, it seems to fail for m = 1, namely,

Θ[z+τ]/.{Θ[z_ + m_ τ]:> a[m] Θ[z]}


only spits out Θ[z+τ] again.

I wonder why this happens, and how to make it work for all m?

## closed as off-topic by Daniel Lichtblau, Bob Hanlon, m_goldberg, Carl Lange, LCarvalhoMay 13 at 11:19

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "This question arises due to a simple mistake such as a trivial syntax error, incorrect capitalization, spelling mistake, or other typographical error and is unlikely to help any future visitors, or else it is easily found in the documentation." – Daniel Lichtblau, Bob Hanlon, m_goldberg, Carl Lange, LCarvalho
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

You can let the pattern matcher know that it can use the default pattern for Times by putting a . at the end of the m pattern.
Θ[z + τ] /. {Θ[z_ + m_. τ] :> a[m] Θ[z]}

evalutes to a[1] Θ[z].