Is there a ternary operator in math












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









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    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
    43 mins ago












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


















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









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    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
    43 mins ago












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
















1












1








1


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









$endgroup$




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




computer-science






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked 49 mins ago









dataphiledataphile

315




315












  • $begingroup$
    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
    43 mins ago












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




















  • $begingroup$
    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
    43 mins ago












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


















$begingroup$
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
43 mins ago






$begingroup$
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
43 mins ago














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






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












3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4












$begingroup$

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






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
    $endgroup$
    – eyeballfrog
    25 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
    20 mins ago



















2












$begingroup$

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









$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    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









    $endgroup$













      Your Answer





      StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
      return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
      StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
      StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
      });
      });
      }, "mathjax-editing");

      StackExchange.ready(function() {
      var channelOptions = {
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "69"
      };
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
      createEditor();
      });
      }
      else {
      createEditor();
      }
      });

      function createEditor() {
      StackExchange.prepareEditor({
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
      convertImagesToLinks: true,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: 10,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader: {
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      },
      noCode: true, onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      });


      }
      });














      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function () {
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3135798%2fis-there-a-ternary-operator-in-math%23new-answer', 'question_page');
      }
      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown

























      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      4












      $begingroup$

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






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
        $endgroup$
        – eyeballfrog
        25 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
        20 mins ago
















      4












      $begingroup$

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






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
        $endgroup$
        – eyeballfrog
        25 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
        20 mins ago














      4












      4








      4





      $begingroup$

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






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$



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







      share|cite|improve this answer












      share|cite|improve this answer



      share|cite|improve this answer










      answered 38 mins ago









      Siong Thye GohSiong Thye Goh

      102k1466118




      102k1466118












      • $begingroup$
        Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
        $endgroup$
        – eyeballfrog
        25 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
        20 mins ago


















      • $begingroup$
        Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
        $endgroup$
        – eyeballfrog
        25 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
        20 mins ago
















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




      $begingroup$
      Indicator is definitely the way to go, since the conditional can define an arbitrary set.
      $endgroup$
      – eyeballfrog
      25 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
      20 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
      20 mins ago











      2












      $begingroup$

      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









      $endgroup$


















        2












        $begingroup$

        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









        $endgroup$
















          2












          2








          2





          $begingroup$

          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









          $endgroup$



          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












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered 37 mins ago









          Paul ChildsPaul Childs

          3047




          3047























              1












              $begingroup$

              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









              $endgroup$


















                1












                $begingroup$

                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









                $endgroup$
















                  1












                  1








                  1





                  $begingroup$

                  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









                  $endgroup$



                  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












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 31 mins ago









                  Ross MillikanRoss Millikan

                  298k23198371




                  298k23198371






























                      draft saved

                      draft discarded




















































                      Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid …



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function () {
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3135798%2fis-there-a-ternary-operator-in-math%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                      }
                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      -

                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Сан-Квентин

                      Image
                      Сан-Квентин Местоположение Сан-Квентин, Калифорния Координаты 37°56′13″ с. ш. 122°29′20″ з. д. H G Я O L Текущий статус Действует Режим безопасности минимальный и максимальный Количество мест 3 302 Открытие Июнь 1852 Находится в ведомстве California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Начальник Mike Martel, начальник  Сан-Квентин на Викискладе Сан-Квентин (англ.  San Quentin ) — тюрьма, располагающаяся на 432 акрах (около 1,7 км²), на мысе Сан-Квентин, в округе Марин, штат Калифорния, США. Тюрьма штата Калифорния Сан-Квентин была открыта в июле 1852 года и является старейшей в штате. Она была построена заключёнными, которые проживали в течение строительства на тюремном судне Вабан. В Сан-Квентине отбывали наказание и мужчины, и женщины до 1934 года, когда построили женскую тюрьму в Техачапи и туда перевели всех заключённых женщин. В Сан-Квентине приводятся в исполнение смертные казни, для этого имеется газовая камера, но...
                      Read more

                      8-я гвардейская общевойсковая армия

                      Image
                      8-я гвардейская общевойсковая ордена Ленина армия Награды: Войска: РККА → Советская армия → СВ России Род войск: Формирование: 1943 Расформирование (преобразование): 1992 Предшественник: 62-я армия (1942—43) → 8-я гвардейская общевойсковая армия (1943—92) → 8-й гвардейский армейский корпус (1992—98) Боевой путь Изюм-Барвенковская операция Донбасская операция Запорожская операция Битва за Днепр Днепропетровская операция Березнеговато-Снигирёвская операция Одесская операция Люблин-Брестская операция Варшавско-Познанская операция Восточно-Померанская операция Берлинская наступательная операция У этого термина существуют и другие значения, см. 8-я армия. Фотография Гвардейского Красного Знамени (лицевая сторона) 8-й гвардейской армии , образца 1943 года. Фотография Гвардейского Красного Знамени (оборотная сторона) 8-й гвардейской армии , образца 1943 года. 8-я гвардейская общевойсковая ордена Ленина армия  — гвардейское фор...
                      Read more

                      Алькесар

                      Image
                      Муниципалитет Алькесар Alquézar Герб 42°10′16″ с. ш. 0°01′27″ в. д. H G Я O L Страна Испания   Испания Автономное сообщество Арагон Провинция Уэска Комарка Сомонтано-де-Барбастро Алькальд Хосе Марияно Альтемир Ласкорс (ИСРП) История и география Площадь 32,36 км² Высота НУМ 660 м Часовой пояс UTC+1, летом UTC+2 Население Население 313 человек ( 2010 ) Плотность 9,92 чел./км² Этнохороним alquezarano/-a Цифровые идентификаторы Телефонный код +34 974 Почтовые индексы 22112 Автомобильный код HU alquezar.org   (исп.) Показать/скрыть карты Алькесар Алькесар Алькесар  Аудио, фото и видео на Викискладе Алькесар (исп.  Alquézar ) — муниципалитет в Испании, входит в провинцию Уэска, в составе автономного сообщества Арагон. Муниципалитет находится в составе района (комарки) Сомонтано-де-Барбастро. Занимает площадь 32,36 км². Население — 321 челове...
                      Read more