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2016-11-13
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roelofw17:11:09

Can someone help me figure out how to solve this one :

"They can easily emulate mapping"
  (= '(0 1 4 9 16 25)
     (map (fn [x] (* x x))
          (range 6))
     (for [x (range 6)]
       __))  

roelofw17:11:41

it is the second challenge from the seq-comprehension chapter of the clojure koans

roelofw17:11:25

I know that the map makes the output (0 1 4 9 16 25)

roelofw17:11:01

Does the for next loop makes also that output ?

mfikes18:11:52

@roelofw They are trying to show you that for implicitly acts like it is mapping a function in this case. Have you taken a look at what for does?

practicalli-johnny18:11:21

Wondering what the significance of a quote after a function means, for example in the source of the range function I saw this expression (iterate inc' 0). I understand that ' before is a syntax shortcut for quote, is this the same if the quote is after the function name?

roelofw18:11:17

yep , I did .

roelofw18:11:46

I have seen examples where for does the same as a map function.

roelofw18:11:24

So I have to make a anymous function which does the same as in the map before it. @mfikes ?

mfikes18:11:01

@roelofw: no. While map applies a function, for is a macro that essentially evaluates its body once for each value, producing a sequence

mfikes19:11:13

@jr0cket: A lot of the numerical functions have "prime" versions that support arbitrary precision

roelofw19:11:12

@mfikes I mean the same as in this example with the let :

(for [x [0 1 2 3 4 5]
      :let [y (* x 3)]
      :when (even? y)]

mfikes19:11:59

@roelofw you could use a :let in the for to bind the square of x to a symbol, but there is a simpler way...

mfikes19:11:07

Do you have a solution using :let?

roelofw19:11:33

I don't have a solutioin yet, I try to find out what is expected here

mfikes19:11:46

What would you do with this, for example @roelofw

(for [x (range 6)
      :let [y (* x x)]]
 ,,,)
 

mfikes19:11:06

What would you put in the ,,,

roelofw19:11:52

I think it depends on what the expected output is , @mfikes

practicalli-johnny19:11:59

@mfikes ah, so there is inc and inc', that makes sense. Thanks

mfikes19:11:46

@roelofw: assuming you want (0 1 4 9 16 25)

roelofw19:11:54

I would use the identity function

mfikes19:11:27

@roelofw: that would produce a sequence of 6 values, where each value is the identity function. Whatever you put in the body of the for is what will be evaluated (not called) and included in the output sequence

mfikes19:11:32

@roelofw: in the example above with :let, for the first element in the output sequence (associated with x being bound to 0), the symbol y will be bound to the value 0. Then y will be bound to 1, and then 4, ...

roelofw19:11:24

yep, that far I understand

roelofw19:11:47

But I m confused to what must be with the ,,, now

mfikes19:11:02

Perhaps a simpler form to consider:

(for [x (range 6)]
 x)

mfikes19:11:00

Then you can vary what is output

(for [x (range 6)]
 (- x))

roelofw19:11:41

The first one gives a output of ( 0 1 2 3 4 5 ) and the second one ( 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 ) @mfikes

roelofw19:11:49

out of my head

mfikes19:11:14

Right. Instead of x, or the negative of x, you need the square of x.

roelofw19:11:58

Then I think I can do

(for [x (range 6)]  x * x )  

mfikes19:11:33

Almost. Just need to use Lisp prefix notation for the multiplication.

roelofw19:11:10

Oke, so (for [x (range 6) ( * x x ))

roelofw19:11:57

which is the same as (for [x (range 6) (fn [x] (* x x ))) if I do not forget a ( @mfikes

roelofw19:11:22

but then the ,, has to be replaced with nothing as I understand what you mean @mfikes

mfikes19:11:33

@roelof No… the body of the for loop needs to contain the expression that will be used to form the elements of the output sequence. You need to move your square expression there.

roelofw19:11:14

oke, and I can remove the let expression.

roelofw19:11:28

sometimes clojure can be very confusing

mfikes19:11:36

@roelof This is very close to correct:

(for [x (range 6)]  x * x ) 
but instead, you write x * x as (* x x)

roelofw19:11:13

I did that on my last attempt

mfikes19:11:47

@roelof for is actually a fairly complicated macro. The mechanics of the map function, on the other hand, is easier to understand IMHO.

roelofw19:11:26

yes, I find this chapter of the clojure koans very difficult

roelofw19:11:42

The rest was fairly easy