Name for programming functions , i think

[trancefishy]

name for "programming functions", i think...

I'm looking for the name of the class of techniques you use to get functions to do what you want. for example, if you wanted to cycle between odd and even, you would use $$-1^n$$. In particular, I want to cycle between 1 and 2, and also be able to output just odd numbers. A couple other things as well, but, this is for a problem I'm working on, and I'd like to just solve it myself. I'm just trying to find a resource that has perhaps a list of little tricks for functions. thanks.

 

[ComputerGeek]

if it is a computer program, why not just have a variable, start at 0, increment by one and every n mod2 ==0 make your cycling variable 2, and when n mod2 == 1, set the variable to 1.

it is not as elegant as a simple mathematical function, but it is a nice solution.

to output just odd numbers, set it up simmilarly, but only output the incremented variable when n mod2 ==1.

 

[trancefishy]

If my problem were to be solved using a computer, it wouldn't even be a problem, simply an exercise. nope, this needs to be the good ol' f(n) form.

oh, and I've managed to simplify it, i no longer need to cycle 1 and 2 or get only odds, but, I've still got more complicated stuff than that, so, the question still stands.

 

[ComputerGeek]

oh, well I was confused then because you said "programming" in there.

 

[jcsd]

$$f(n) = \frac{(-1)^n + 3}{2}$$

Cycles between 1 and 2.

Cyclic function is the only name that I can think of for this kind of function.


$$f(n) = 2n -1$$

maps the natutral numbers onto the odd numbers.