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I have three variables like this,
r1 = 4;
r2 = 3;
r3 = 1;
and I want to insert them into a function use them in a function definition like so:
f[n_] := r[n] + r[n-1]
So I need to have a function that just duplicates the variable, something like:
r[1] = r1 = 4;
r[2] = r2 = 3;
r[3] = r3 = 1;
Firstly, I thought of doing
r[n_] := r[n]
but that doesn't make much sense.
I was wondering if there is some nice way to do this?
r[n_] := Symbol["r" <> ToString[n]]
Then:
r[1]
gives
r1
r[1] == r1 == 4 will evaluate to True
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Dec 12, 2013 at 23:38
Symbol instead of ToExpression.
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Dec 13, 2013 at 1:50
ToExpression? I thought the effect is the same...
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ToExpression will also evaluate arbitrary code which could result in strange errors, or in the case of library code malicious abuse. Symbol is simply better suited yet often overlooked. Evaluation is somewhat different as well (as shown by Trace) but usually not significant.
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Dec 13, 2013 at 3:41
The method below sets the actual values to r:-
r1 = 4;
r2 = 3;
r3 = 1;
Clear[r, f, g];
f = Function[{rn},
r[ToExpression@StringDrop[ToString@Unevaluated[rn], 1]],
{HoldFirst}];
g = Function[{rf}, Evaluate[f[rf]] = rf, {HoldFirst, Listable}];
g[{r1, r2, r3}]
{4, 3, 1}
r[1] == r1
True
r[n_] := Symbol["r" <> ToString[n]]$\endgroup$