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I have a function f[k] where k is a nonnegative integer. My function f has a single point where it attains its maximum (though is not necessarily discrete-concave): it occurs at the first time when the difference f[k+1]-f[k]<=0. Is there a way I can ask Mathematica to solve for such a k? Ideally there would be a functional expression for the optimal k.

As a simple example, consider the problem of finding the index of the last positive element in a vector of sorted (descending) values. Is there a Mathematica function that I can use to solve something like Solve[DifferenceDelta[f[k], k] == 0]?

x := {10, 9, 6, 5, 2, 2, -1, -3, -4}
f[k] := Sum[x[i], {i, 1, k}]

In this specific case, I don't see a better way of identifying the optimal k besides evaluating each difference and checking its sign, so I don't expect Mathematica to provide an expression for the optimal k.

EDIT: to clarify, I am interested in approaches that will work for general f, not just this particular example.

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  • $\begingroup$ LengthWhile ? $\endgroup$
    – imida k
    Apr 21 at 18:36
  • $\begingroup$ @imidak: thanks, i see how this would solve my particular example of f, but i am curious about code i can write to ask mathematica to return an expression like that for general f $\endgroup$
    – rrrrr
    Apr 21 at 18:41

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This works when there are no duplicates:

Position[x,Last@Select[x, Positive]]
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  • $\begingroup$ thanks, i see how this would solve my particular example of f, but i am curious about code i can write to ask mathematica to return an expression like that for general f $\endgroup$
    – rrrrr
    Apr 21 at 19:02

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