->
x -> e -- denotes a function. When the function is called, the initial
value of the variable x is the argument if there is just one, or
else is the sequence of arguments.
(x) -> e -- denotes a function of one argument. When the function is
applied to an expression w three things may happen:
- if w is not a sequence, then the initial value of x is w;
- if w is a sequence of length one, then the initial value
of x is the unique element of w; or
- if w is a sequence of length other than one, then it
is an error.
(x,y) -> e -- denotes a function of two arguments.
Similarly for more arguments.
These operations create what is usually called a closure,
which signifies that the function remembers the values of local
variables in effect at the time of its creation, can change
those values, and share the changes with other functions created
at the same time.
i1 : f = x -> 2*x+1
o1 = f
o1 : Function |
i2 : f 100
o2 = 201 |
The class of all functions is Function.
