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Is there a ternary operator in math

Considering math or computer scienceWhat is a good language to develop in for simple, yet customizable math programs?Translate Programming code to MathMath vocab: operator on $S$ and into $S =$?A set system generated by a closure operator?Evaluating math proofs by computeris all math beyond arithmetic just advanced arithmetic?Are there dictionaries in math?What is a good route for a math student to self study computer science systematically and efficiently?Multiplying two numbers using only the “left shift” operator

2

1

$begingroup$

Is there a math equivalent of the programming ternary operator?

a = b + c > 0 ? 1 : 2

The above meaning that if c is greater than 0 then a = b + 1 else a = b + 2.

computer-science

share|cite|improve this question

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  It probably depends on the form of the conditions and the results, but the example you gave can be expressed with the unit step $u(x)$ (with an appropriate definition at $x=1$): $a = u(b+c) + 1$
  $endgroup$
  – Alex
  52 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Alex $a = b + 2 - u(c)$
  $endgroup$
  – eyeballfrog
  35 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

1

$begingroup$

Is there a math equivalent of the programming ternary operator?

a = b + c > 0 ? 1 : 2

The above meaning that if c is greater than 0 then a = b + 1 else a = b + 2.

computer-science

share|cite|improve this question

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  It probably depends on the form of the conditions and the results, but the example you gave can be expressed with the unit step $u(x)$ (with an appropriate definition at $x=1$): $a = u(b+c) + 1$
  $endgroup$
  – Alex
  52 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  @Alex $a = b + 2 - u(c)$
  $endgroup$
  – eyeballfrog
  35 mins ago
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Is there a math equivalent of the programming ternary operator?

a = b + c > 0 ? 1 : 2

The above meaning that if c is greater than 0 then a = b + 1 else a = b + 2.

computer-science

share|cite|improve this question

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

$endgroup$

a = b + c > 0 ? 1 : 2

share|cite|improve this question

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

share|cite|improve this question

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

asked 57 mins ago

dataphiledataphile

365

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

5

$begingroup$

Using the indicator function notation:$$a=b+1+1_{(-infty, 0]}(c)$$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
  $endgroup$
  – eyeballfrog
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Thank you, that is very elegant. I will definitely try out all of the answers as I often use this in various scenarios.
  $endgroup$
  – dataphile
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

$begingroup$

In math, equations are written in piecewise form by having a curly brace enclose multiple lines; each one with a condition excepting the last which has "otherwise".

There are a few custom operators that also occasionally make an appearance. E.g. the Heavyside function mentioned by Alex, the Dirac function, and the cyclical operator $delta_{ijk}$ - all of which can be used to emulate conditional behaviour.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

This is not a ternary operator, it is a function of two variables. There is one operation that results in $a$. You can certainly define a function
$$f(b,c)=begin {cases} b+1&c gt 0\
b+2 & c le 0 end {cases}$$

You can also define functions with any number of inputs you want, so you can define $f(a,b,c)=a(b+c^2)$, for example. This is a ternary function.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

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5

$begingroup$

Using the indicator function notation:$$a=b+1+1_{(-infty, 0]}(c)$$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
  $endgroup$
  – eyeballfrog
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Thank you, that is very elegant. I will definitely try out all of the answers as I often use this in various scenarios.
  $endgroup$
  – dataphile
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

$begingroup$

Using the indicator function notation:$$a=b+1+1_{(-infty, 0]}(c)$$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

$endgroup$

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
  $endgroup$
  – eyeballfrog
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  $begingroup$
  Thank you, that is very elegant. I will definitely try out all of the answers as I often use this in various scenarios.
  $endgroup$
  – dataphile
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

Using the indicator function notation:$$a=b+1+1_{(-infty, 0]}(c)$$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

$endgroup$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

answered 47 mins ago

Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

102k1466118

3

$begingroup$

In math, equations are written in piecewise form by having a curly brace enclose multiple lines; each one with a condition excepting the last which has "otherwise".

There are a few custom operators that also occasionally make an appearance. E.g. the Heavyside function mentioned by Alex, the Dirac function, and the cyclical operator $delta_{ijk}$ - all of which can be used to emulate conditional behaviour.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

3

$begingroup$

In math, equations are written in piecewise form by having a curly brace enclose multiple lines; each one with a condition excepting the last which has "otherwise".

There are a few custom operators that also occasionally make an appearance. E.g. the Heavyside function mentioned by Alex, the Dirac function, and the cyclical operator $delta_{ijk}$ - all of which can be used to emulate conditional behaviour.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

In math, equations are written in piecewise form by having a curly brace enclose multiple lines; each one with a condition excepting the last which has "otherwise".

There are a few custom operators that also occasionally make an appearance. E.g. the Heavyside function mentioned by Alex, the Dirac function, and the cyclical operator $delta_{ijk}$ - all of which can be used to emulate conditional behaviour.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

$endgroup$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

answered 45 mins ago

Paul ChildsPaul Childs

3147

2

$begingroup$

This is not a ternary operator, it is a function of two variables. There is one operation that results in $a$. You can certainly define a function
$$f(b,c)=begin {cases} b+1&c gt 0\
b+2 & c le 0 end {cases}$$

You can also define functions with any number of inputs you want, so you can define $f(a,b,c)=a(b+c^2)$, for example. This is a ternary function.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

2

$begingroup$

This is not a ternary operator, it is a function of two variables. There is one operation that results in $a$. You can certainly define a function
$$f(b,c)=begin {cases} b+1&c gt 0\
b+2 & c le 0 end {cases}$$

You can also define functions with any number of inputs you want, so you can define $f(a,b,c)=a(b+c^2)$, for example. This is a ternary function.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371

$endgroup$

add a comment | 

$begingroup$

This is not a ternary operator, it is a function of two variables. There is one operation that results in $a$. You can certainly define a function
$$f(b,c)=begin {cases} b+1&c gt 0\
b+2 & c le 0 end {cases}$$

You can also define functions with any number of inputs you want, so you can define $f(a,b,c)=a(b+c^2)$, for example. This is a ternary function.

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371

$endgroup$

share|cite|improve this answer

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371

answered 40 mins ago

Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

298k23198371