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<html> | |
<head> | |
<title>LISP Tutorial 1: Basic LISP Programming</title> | |
</head> | |
<body BGCOLOR=FFFFFF> | |
<h1>LISP Tutorial 1: Basic LISP Programming</h1> | |
<h2>LISP Expressions</h2> | |
<p>When you start up the Common LISP environment, you should | |
see a prompt, which means that LISP is waiting for you to enter | |
a LISP expression. In the environment I am using, it looks like | |
the following: | |
<pre> | |
USER(1): | |
</pre> | |
The Common LISP environment follows the algorithm below | |
when interacting with users: | |
<pre> | |
loop | |
read in an expression from the console; | |
evaluate the expression; | |
print the result of evaluation to the console; | |
end loop. | |
</pre> | |
Common LISP reads in an expression, evaluates it, | |
and then prints out the result. For example, if you want to | |
compute the value of <em>(2 * cos(0) * (4 + 6))</em>, you type in: | |
<pre> | |
USER(1): (* 2 (cos 0) (+ 4 6)) | |
</pre> | |
Common LISP replies: | |
<pre> | |
20.0 | |
</pre> | |
before prompting you to enter the next expression. | |
Several things are worth noting: | |
<ul> | |
<li>LISP expressions are composed of <em>forms</em>. | |
The most common LISP form is <em>function application</em>. | |
LISP represents a function call <em>f(x)</em> | |
as <tt>(f x)</tt>. For example, <em>cos(0)</em> | |
is written as <tt>(cos 0)</tt>. | |
<li>LISP expressions are case-insensitive. It makes | |
no difference whether we type <tt>(cos 0)</tt> or | |
<tt>(COS 0)</tt>. | |
<li>Similarly, "<tt>+</tt>" is the name of the | |
addition function that returns the sum of | |
its arguments. | |
<li>Some functions, like "<tt>+</tt>" and "<tt>*</tt>", | |
could take an arbitrary number of arguments. In our | |
example, "<tt>*</tt>" took three arguments. It could | |
as well take 2 arguments, as in "<tt>(* 2 3)</tt>", or | |
4 arguments, as in "<tt>(* 2 3 4 5)</tt>". | |
<li>In general, | |
a function application form looks like | |
<tt>(<em>function</em> | |
<em>argument<sub>1</sub></em> <em>argument<sub>2</sub></em> | |
... <em>argument<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt>. | |
As in many programming languages (e.g. C/C++), | |
LISP evaluates function calls in <em>applicative order</em>, which | |
means that all the argument forms are evaluated | |
before the function is invoked. That is to say, the | |
argument forms <tt>(cos 0)</tt> | |
and <tt>(+ 4 6)</tt> are respectively evaluated to the | |
values <em>1</em> and | |
<em>10</em> before they are passed as arguments to the <tt>*</tt> | |
function. | |
Some other forms, like | |
the <em>conditionals</em> we will see later, are not evaluated in | |
applicative order. | |
<li>Numeric values like <tt>4</tt> and <tt>6</tt> are | |
called <em>self-evaluating forms</em>: they evaluate | |
to themselves. To evaluate <tt>(+ 4 6)</tt> in applicative order, | |
the forms <tt>4</tt> and <tt>6</tt> are respectively evaluated | |
to the values <em>4</em> and <em>6</em> before they are passed | |
as arguments to the <tt>+</tt> function. | |
</ul> | |
<p>Complex arithmatic expressions can be constructed from built-in | |
functions like the following: | |
<p><table border=1> | |
<tr> | |
<th>Numeric Functions</th><th>Meaning</th> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(+ <em>x<sub>1</sub></em> <em>x<sub>2</sub></em> ... <em>x<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>The sum of <em>x<sub>1</sub></em>, <em>x<sub>2</sub></em>, ..., <em>x<sub>n</sub></em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(* <em>x<sub>1</sub></em> <em>x<sub>2</sub></em> ... <em>x<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>The product of <em>x<sub>1</sub></em>, <em>x<sub>2</sub></em>, ..., <em>x<sub>n</sub></em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(- <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>Subtract <em>y</em> from <em>x</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(/ <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>Divide <em>x</em> by <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(rem <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>The remainder of dividing <em>x</em> by <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(abs <em>x</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>The absolute value of <em>x</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(max <em>x<sub>1</sub></em> <em>x<sub>2</sub></em> ... <em>x<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>The maximum of <em>x<sub>1</sub></em>, <em>x<sub>2</sub></em>, ..., <em>x<sub>n</sub></em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(min <em>x<sub>1</sub></em> <em>x<sub>2</sub></em> ... <em>x<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>The minimum of <em>x<sub>1</sub></em>, <em>x<sub>2</sub></em>, ..., <em>x<sub>n</sub></em></td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
<p>Common LISP has a rich set of pre-defined numerical functions. | |
For a complete coverage, consult Chapter 12 of the book, <em>Common | |
LISP, The Language (2nd Edition)</em> (CLTL2) by Guy Steele. In | |
general, we will not be able to cover all aspects of Common LISP | |
in this tutorial. | |
Adventurous readers should consult CLTL2 frequently for more | |
in-depth explanation of various features of the language. | |
<p><hr> | |
<b>Exercise:</b> Look up pages 376-378 of CLTL2 and find out | |
what the functions <tt>floor</tt> and <tt>ceiling</tt> are | |
for. Then, find out the subtle difference between <tt>mod</tt> | |
and <tt>rem</tt>. | |
<hr> | |
<h2>Defining Functions</h2> | |
<p>Evaluating expressions is not very interesting. We would like to | |
build expression abstractions that could be reused in the future. | |
For example, we could type in the following: | |
<pre> | |
USER(2): (defun double (x) (* x 2)) | |
DOUBLE | |
</pre> | |
In the above, we define a function named <tt>double</tt>, which | |
returns two times the value of its input argument <em>x</em>. We can then | |
test-drive the function as below: | |
<pre> | |
USER(3): (double 3) | |
6 | |
USER(4): (double 7) | |
14 | |
</pre> | |
<h2>Editing, Loading and Compiling LISP Programs</h2> | |
<p>Most of the functions we would like to write is going to | |
be a lot longer than the <tt>double</tt> function. | |
When working with complex programs, it is usually desirable | |
to edit the program with an editor, fully debug the code, | |
and then compile it for faster performance. Use | |
your favorite text editor (mine is <tt>emacs</tt>) to key in the | |
following function definition: | |
<pre> | |
;;; testing.lisp | |
;;; by Philip Fong | |
;;; | |
;;; Introductory comments are preceded by ";;;" | |
;;; Function headers are preceded by ";;" | |
;;; Inline comments are introduced by ";" | |
;;; | |
;; | |
;; Triple the value of a number | |
;; | |
(defun triple (X) | |
"Compute three times X." ; Inline comments can | |
(* 3 X)) ; be placed here. | |
;; | |
;; Negate the sign of a number | |
;; | |
(defun negate (X) | |
"Negate the value of X." ; This is a documentation string. | |
(- X)) | |
</pre> | |
Save the above in the file <tt>testing.lisp</tt>. Now load | |
the definition into the LISP environment by typing: | |
<pre> | |
USER(5): (load "testing.lisp") | |
; Loading ./testing.lisp | |
T | |
</pre> | |
Let us try to see if they are working properly. | |
<pre> | |
USER(6): (triple 2) | |
6 | |
USER(7): (negate 3) | |
-3 | |
</pre> | |
When functions are fully debugged, we can also | |
compile them into binaries: | |
<pre> | |
USER(8): (compile-file "testing.lisp") | |
</pre> | |
Depending on whether your code is well-formed, and what system | |
you are using, some compilation messages will be generated. | |
The compiled code can be loaded into the LISP environment later by | |
using the following: | |
<pre> | |
USER(9): (load "testing") | |
; Fast loading ./testing.fasl | |
T | |
</pre> | |
<h2>Control Stuctures: Recursions and Conditionals</h2> | |
<p>Now that we are equipped with all the tools for | |
developing LISP programs, let us venture into | |
something more interesting. Consider the definition of | |
factorials: | |
<table> | |
<tr> | |
<td> </td><td><em>n! = 1</em></td><td> </td><td>if <em>n = 1</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td> </td><td><em>n! = n * (n - 1)!</em></td><td> </td><td>if <em>n > 1</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
We can implement a function to compute factorials using | |
recursion: | |
<pre> | |
(defun factorial (N) | |
"Compute the factorial of N." | |
(if (= N 1) | |
1 | |
(* N (factorial (- N 1))))) | |
</pre> | |
The <tt>if</tt> form checks if <tt>N</tt> is one, and | |
returns one if that is the case, or else returns | |
<em>N * (N - 1)!</em>. | |
Several points are worth noting: | |
<ul> | |
<li>The condition expression <tt>(= N 1)</tt> is | |
a relational expression. It returns boolean | |
values <tt>T</tt> or <tt>NIL</tt>. In fact, LISP | |
treats <tt>NIL</tt> as false, and everything else | |
as true. Other relational operators include the | |
following: | |
<p><table border=1> | |
<tr> | |
<th>Relational Operators</th><th>Meaning</th> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(= <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><em>x</em> is equal to <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(/= <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><em>x</em> is not equal to <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(< <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><em>x</em> is less than <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(> <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><em>x</em> is greater than <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(<= <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><em>x</em> is no greater than <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(>= <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><em>x</em> is no less than <em>y</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
<p> | |
<li>The <tt>if</tt> form is not a <em>strict function</em> | |
(strict functions evaluate their arguments in applicative | |
order). | |
Instead, the <tt>if</tt> form evaluates | |
the condition <tt>(= N 1)</tt> before further | |
evaluating the other two arguments. | |
If the condition evaluates to true, then only the | |
second argument is evaluated, and its value is | |
returned as the value of the <tt>if</tt> form. | |
Otherwise, the third argument is evaluated, and its | |
value is returned. Forms that are not strict | |
functions are called | |
<em>special forms</em>. | |
<li>The function is recursive. The definition of <tt>factorial</tt> | |
involves invocation of itself. Recursion is, for now, our only | |
mechanism for producing looping behavior. Specifically, | |
the kind of recursion we are looking at is called <em>linear | |
recursion</em>, in which the function may make at most one | |
recursive call from any level of invocation. | |
</ul> | |
<p>To better understand the last point, | |
we can make use of the debugging facility | |
<tt>trace</tt> (do not compile your code if you want to use | |
<tt>trace</tt>): | |
<pre> | |
USER(11): (trace factorial) | |
(FACTORIAL) | |
USER(12): (factorial 4) | |
0: (FACTORIAL 4) | |
1: (FACTORIAL 3) | |
2: (FACTORIAL 2) | |
3: (FACTORIAL 1) | |
3: returned 1 | |
2: returned 2 | |
1: returned 6 | |
0: returned 24 | |
24 | |
</pre> | |
Tracing <tt>factorial</tt> allows us to examine | |
the recursive invocation of the function. As you | |
can see, at most one recursive call is made from | |
each level of invocation. | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise:</b> | |
The <em>N</em>'th <em>triangular number</em> is | |
defined to be <em>1 + 2 + 3 + ... + N</em>. | |
Alternatively, we could give a recursive definition | |
of triangular number as follows: | |
<table> | |
<tr> | |
<td></td> | |
<td><em>T(n) = 1</em></td> | |
<td></td> | |
<td>if <em>n = 1</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td></td> | |
<td><em>T(n) = n + T(n-1)</em></td> | |
<td></td> | |
<td>if <em>n > 1</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
Use the recursive definition to | |
help you implement | |
a linearly recursive function <tt>(triangular <em>N</em>)</tt> | |
that returns the <em>N</em>'th triangular number. | |
Enter your function definition into a text file. Then load | |
it into LISP. Trace the execution of <tt>(triangular 6)</tt>. | |
<hr> | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise:</b> | |
Write down a recursive definition of <em>B<sup>E</sup></em> | |
(assuming that | |
both <em>B</em> and <em>E</em> are non-negative integers). | |
Then implement a linearly | |
recursive function <tt>(power <em>B</em> <em>E</em>)</tt> that | |
computes <em>B<sup>E</sup></em>. | |
Enter your function definition into a text file. Then load | |
it into LISP. Trace the execution of <tt>(power 2 6)</tt>. | |
<hr> | |
<h2>Multiple Recursions</h2> | |
<p>Recall the definition of Fibonacci numbers: | |
<table> | |
<tr> | |
<td> </td> <td><em>Fib(n) = 1</em></td> <td> </td> | |
<td>for <em>n = 0</em> or <em>n = 1</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td> </td> <td><em>Fib(n) = Fib(n-1) + Fib(n-2)</em></td> <td> </td> | |
<td>for <em>n > 1</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
This definition can be directly translated to the | |
following LISP code: | |
<pre> | |
(defun fibonacci (N) | |
"Compute the N'th Fibonacci number." | |
(if (or (zerop N) (= N 1)) | |
1 | |
(+ (fibonacci (- N 1)) (fibonacci (- N 2))))) | |
</pre> | |
<p>Again, several observations can be made. | |
First, the function call <tt>(zerop N)</tt> tests if <tt>N</tt> is | |
zero. It is merely a shorthand for <tt>(= N 0)</tt>. As such, | |
<tt>zerop</tt> returns either <tt>T</tt> or <tt>NIL</tt>. We | |
call such a boolean function a <em>predicate</em>, as indicated by the | |
suffix <tt>p</tt>. Some other built-in shorthands and predicates | |
are the following: | |
<p><table border=1> | |
<tr> | |
<th>Shorthand</th><th>Meaning</th> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(1+ <em>x</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><tt>(+ <em>x</em> 1)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(1- <em>x</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td><tt>(- <em>x</em> 1)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(zerop <em>x</em>)</tt></td><td><tt>(= <em>x</em> 0)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(plusp <em>x</em>)</tt></td><td><tt>(> <em>x</em> 0)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(minusp <em>x</em>)</tt></td><td><tt>(< <em>x</em> 0)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(evenp <em>x</em>)</tt></td><td><tt>(= (rem <em>x</em> 2) 0)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(oddp <em>x</em>)</tt></td><td><tt>(/= (rem <em>x</em> 2) 0)</tt></td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
<p>Second, the <tt>or</tt> form is a logical operator. Like <tt>if</tt>, | |
<tt>or</tt> is not a strict function. | |
It evaluates its arguments from left | |
to right, returning non-<tt>NIL</tt> immediately if it encounters | |
an argument that evaluates to non-<tt>NIL</tt>. It evaluates | |
to <tt>NIL</tt> if all tests fail. | |
For example, in the expression <tt>(or t (= 1 1))</tt>, the second | |
argument <tt>(= 1 1)</tt> will not be evaluated. Similar logical | |
connectives are listed below: | |
<p><table border=1> | |
<tr> | |
<th>Logical Operators</th><th>Meaning</th> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(or <em>x<sub>1</sub></em> <em>x<sub>2</sub></em> ... <em>x<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>Logical or</td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(and <em>x<sub>1</sub></em> <em>x<sub>2</sub></em> ... <em>x<sub>n</sub></em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>Logical and</td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(not <em>x</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>Logical negation</td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
<p>Third, the function definition contains two self references. | |
It first recursively evaluates <tt>(fibonacci (- N 1))</tt> to | |
compute <em>Fib(N-1)</em>, then evaluates <tt>(fibonacci (- N 2))</tt> | |
to obtain <em>Fib(N-2)</em>, and lastly return their sum. | |
This kind of recursive definitiion is called <em>double recursion</em> | |
(more generally, <em>multiple recursion</em>). | |
Tracing the function yields the following: | |
<pre> | |
USER(20): (fibonacci 3) | |
0: (FIBONACCI 3) | |
1: (FIBONACCI 2) | |
2: (FIBONACCI 1) | |
2: returned 1 | |
2: (FIBONACCI 0) | |
2: returned 1 | |
1: returned 2 | |
1: (FIBONACCI 1) | |
1: returned 1 | |
0: returned 3 | |
3 | |
</pre> | |
Note that in each level, there could be up to two recursive invocations. | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: The Binomial Coefficient <em>B(n, r)</em> is | |
the coefficient of the term <em>x<sup>r</sup></em> in the binormial | |
expansion of | |
<em>(1 + x)<sup>n</sup></em>. | |
For example, <em>B(4, 2) = 6</em> because <em>(1+x)<sup>4</sup> | |
= 1 + 4x + 6x<sup>2</sup> + 4x<sup>3</sup> + x<sup>4</sup></em>. | |
The Binomial Coefficient | |
can be computed using the <em>Pascal Triangle</em> formula: | |
<table> | |
<tr> | |
<td> </td> <td><em>B(n, r) = 1</em></td> <td> </td> | |
<td>if <em>r = 0</em> or <em>r = n</em></td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td> </td><td><em>B(n, r) = B(n-1, r-1) + B(n-1, r)</td> <td> </td> | |
<td>otherwise</td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
Implement a doubly recursive function <tt>(binomial <em>N</em> <em>R</em>)</tt> | |
that computes the binomial coefficient <em>B(N, R)</em>. | |
<hr> | |
<p>Some beginners might find nested function calls like the | |
following very difficult to understand: | |
<pre> | |
(+ (fibonacci (- N 1)) (fibonacci (- N 2))))) | |
</pre> | |
To make such expressions easier to write and comprehend, one | |
could define local name bindings to represent intermediate | |
results: | |
<pre> | |
(let | |
((F1 (fibonacci (- N 1))) | |
(F2 (fibonacci (- N 2)))) | |
(+ F1 F2)) | |
</pre> | |
The <tt>let</tt> special form above defines two local variables, | |
<tt>F1</tt> and <tt>F2</tt>, which binds to <em>Fib(N-1)</em> | |
and <em>Fib(N-2)</em> respectively. Under these local | |
bindings, <tt>let</tt> evaluates <tt>(+ F1 F2)</tt>. | |
The <tt>fibonacci</tt> function can thus be rewritten as follows: | |
<pre> | |
(defun fibonacci (N) | |
"Compute the N'th Fibonacci number." | |
(if (or (zerop N) (= N 1)) | |
1 | |
(let | |
((F1 (fibonacci (- N 1))) | |
(F2 (fibonacci (- N 2)))) | |
(+ F1 F2)))) | |
</pre> | |
<p>Notice that <tt>let</tt> creates all bindings in parallel. | |
That is, both <tt>(fibonacci (- N 1))</tt> and <tt>(fibonacci (- N 2))</tt> | |
are evaluated first, and then they are bound to <tt>F1</tt> and <tt>F2</tt>. | |
This means that the following LISP code will not work: | |
<pre> | |
(let | |
((x 1) | |
(y (* x 2))) | |
(+ x y)) | |
</pre> | |
LISP will attempt to evaluate the right hand sides first before | |
the bindings are established. So, the expression | |
<tt>(* x 2)</tt> is evaluated before the binding of <tt>x</tt> | |
is available. To perform sequential binding, use the <tt>let*</tt> | |
form instead: | |
<pre> | |
(let* | |
((x 1) | |
(y (* x 2))) | |
(+ x y)) | |
</pre> | |
LISP will bind <tt>1</tt> to <tt>x</tt>, then evaluate <tt>(* x 2)</tt> | |
before the value is bound to <tt>y</tt>. | |
<h2>Lists</h2> | |
<p>Numeric values are not the only type of data LISP supports. | |
LISP is designed for symbolic computing. The fundamental | |
LISP data structure for supporting symbolic manipulation are | |
lists. In fact, LISP stands for "LISt Processing." | |
<p>Lists are containers that supports sequential traversal. | |
List is also a <em>recursive data structure</em>: its definition | |
is recursive. | |
As such, most of its traversal algorithms are recursive functions. | |
In order to better | |
understand a recursive abstract data type and prepare oneself | |
to develop recursive operations on the data type, one should present | |
the data type in terms of its <em>constructors</em>, | |
<em>selectors</em> and <em>recognizers</em>. | |
<p>Constructors are forms that create new | |
instances of a data type (possibly out of some simpler components). | |
A list is obtained by | |
evaluating one of the following constructors: | |
<ol> | |
<li><tt>nil</tt>: Evaluating <tt>nil</tt> creates an <em>empty</em> | |
list; | |
<li><tt>(cons <em>x</em> <em>L</em>)</tt>: Given a LISP object | |
<em>x</em> and a list <em>L</em>, evaluating <tt>(cons <em>x</em> <em>L</em>)</tt> | |
creates a list | |
containing | |
<em>x</em> followed by the elements in <em>L</em>. | |
</ol> | |
<p>Notice that the above definition is inherently recursive. | |
For example, | |
to construct a list containing 1 followed by 2, we could type | |
in the expression: | |
<pre> | |
USER(21): (cons 1 (cons 2 nil)) | |
(1 2) | |
</pre> | |
LISP replies by printing <tt>(1 2)</tt>, which is a more | |
readable representation of a list containing 1 followed by 2. | |
To understand why the above works, notice that <tt>nil</tt> | |
is a list (an empty one), and thus <tt>(cons 2 nil)</tt> is | |
also a list (a list containing 1 followed by nothing). Applying | |
the second constructor again, we see that <tt>(cons 1 (cons 2 nil))</tt> | |
is also a list (a list containing 1 followed by 2 followed by nothing). | |
<p>Typing <tt>cons</tt> expressions could be tedious. | |
If we already know all the elements in a list, we could | |
enter our list as <em>list literals</em>. For example, to | |
enter a list containing all prime numbers less than 20, | |
we could type in the following expression: | |
<pre> | |
USER(22): (quote (2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19) | |
</pre> | |
Notice that we have quoted the list using the <tt>quote</tt> special | |
form. This is necessary | |
because, without the quote, LISP would interpret the expression | |
<tt>(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)</tt> | |
as a function call to a function with name "2" and arguments 3, 5, ..., 19 | |
The <tt>quote</tt> is just a syntactic device that instructs LISP | |
not to evaluate the a form in applicative order, but rather treat it | |
as a literal. | |
Since quoting is used frequently in LISP programs, | |
there is a shorthand for <tt>quote</tt>: | |
<pre> | |
USER(23): '(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19) | |
(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19) | |
</pre> | |
The quote symbol <tt>'</tt> is nothing but a syntactic shorthand for | |
<tt>(quote ...)</tt>. | |
<p>The second ingredient of an abstract data type are its selectors. | |
Given a composite object constructed out of several components, | |
a selector form returns one of its components. Specifically, | |
suppose a list <em>L<sub>1</sub></em> is constructed by evaluating | |
<tt>(cons <em>x</em> <em>L<sub>2</sub></em>)</tt>, where <em>x</em> is a | |
LISP object and <em>L<sub>2</sub></em> is a list. Then, the selector forms | |
<tt>(first <em>L<sub>1</sub></em>)</tt> and <tt>(rest <em>L<sub>1</sub></em>)</tt> evaluate | |
to <em>x</em> and <em>L<sub>2</sub></em> respectively, as the following | |
examples illustrate: | |
<pre> | |
USER(24): (first '(2 4 8)) | |
2 | |
USER(25): (rest '(2 4 8)) | |
(4 8) | |
USER(26): (first (rest '(2 4 8))) | |
4 | |
USER(27): (rest (rest '(2 4 8))) | |
(8) | |
USER(28): (rest (rest (rest '(8)))) | |
NIL | |
</pre> | |
<p>Finally, we look at recognizers, expressions that test how an | |
object is constructed. Corresponding to each constructor of | |
a data type is a recognizer. In the case of list, they are | |
<tt>null</tt> for <tt>nil</tt> and <tt>consp</tt> for <tt>cons</tt>. | |
Given a list <em>L</em>, <tt>(null <em>L</em>)</tt> returns | |
<tt>t</tt> iff <em>L</em> is <tt>nil</tt>, and <tt>(consp <em>L</em>)</tt> | |
returns <tt>t</tt> iff <em>L</em> is constructed from <tt>cons</tt>. | |
<pre> | |
USER(29): (null nil) | |
T | |
USER(30): (null '(1 2 3)) | |
NIL | |
USER(31): (consp nil) | |
NIL | |
USER(32): (consp '(1 2 3)) | |
T | |
</pre> | |
Notice that, since lists have only two constructors, the recognizers | |
are complementary. Therefore, we usually need only one of them. | |
In our following discussion, we use only <tt>null</tt>. | |
<h2>Structural Recursion with Lists</h2> | |
<p>As we have promised, understanding how the constructors, selectors and | |
recognizers of lists work helps us to develop recursive functions that | |
traverse a list. Let us begin with an example. | |
The LISP built-in function <tt>list-length</tt> counts the number of | |
elements in a list. For example, | |
<pre> | |
USER(33): (list-length '(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
8 | |
</pre> | |
Let us try to see how such a function can be implemented recursively. | |
A given list <em>L</em> is created by either one of the two constructors, | |
namely <tt>nil</tt> or a <tt>cons</tt>: | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 1</em>: <em>L</em> is <tt>nil</tt>.<br> | |
The length of an empty list is zero. | |
<li><em>Case 2</em>: <em>L</em> is constructed by <tt>cons</tt>.<br> | |
Then <em>L</em> is composed of two parts, namely, | |
<tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt> and <tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. In such | |
case, the length of <em>L</em> can be obtained inductively by adding | |
1 to the length of <tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. | |
</ul> | |
<p>Formally, we could | |
implement our own version of <tt>list-length</tt> as follows: | |
<pre> | |
(defun recursive-list-length (L) | |
"A recursive implementation of list-length." | |
(if (null L) | |
0 | |
(1+ (recursive-list-length (rest L))))) | |
</pre> | |
Here, we use the recognizer <tt>null</tt> to differentiate how | |
<em>L</em> is constructed. In case <em>L</em> is <tt>nil</tt>, | |
we return 0 as its length. Otherwise, <em>L</em> is a <tt>cons</tt>, | |
and we return 1 plus the length of <tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. | |
Recall that <tt>(1+ <em>n</em>)</tt> is simply a shorthand for | |
<tt>(+ <em>n</em> 1)</tt>. | |
<p>Again, it is instructive to use the trace facilities to | |
examine the unfolding of recursive invocations: | |
<pre> | |
USER(40): (trace recursive-list-length) | |
(RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH) | |
USER(41): (recursive-list-length '(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
0: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
1: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
2: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
3: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (7 11 13 17 19)) | |
4: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (11 13 17 19)) | |
5: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (13 17 19)) | |
6: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (17 19)) | |
7: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (19)) | |
8: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH NIL) | |
8: returned 0 | |
7: returned 1 | |
6: returned 2 | |
5: returned 3 | |
4: returned 4 | |
3: returned 5 | |
2: returned 6 | |
1: returned 7 | |
0: returned 8 | |
8 | |
</pre> | |
<p>The kind of recursion we see here is called <em>structural | |
recursion</em>. Its standard pattern is as follows. To | |
process an instance <em>X</em> of a recursive data type: | |
<ol> | |
<li>Use the recognizers to determine how <em>X</em> is created | |
(i.e. which constructor creates it). In our example, we | |
use <tt>null</tt> to decide if a list is created by | |
<tt>nil</tt> or <tt>cons</tt>. | |
<li>For instances that are atomic (i.e. those created by | |
constructors with no components), return a trivial | |
value. For example, in the case when a list is <tt>nil</tt>, | |
we return zero as its length. | |
<li>If the instance is composite, then use the selectors to | |
extract its components. In our example, we use <tt>first</tt> | |
and <tt>rest</tt> to extract the two components of a nonempty | |
list. | |
<li>Following that, we apply recursion on one or more components | |
of <em>X</em>. For instance, we recusively invoked | |
<tt>recursive-list-length</tt> on <tt>(rest L)</tt>. | |
<li>Finally, we use either the constructors or some other | |
functions to combine the result of the recursive calls, | |
yielding the value of the function. In the case of | |
<tt>recursive-list-length</tt>, we return one plus the | |
result of the recursive call. | |
</ol> | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: Implement a linearly recursive | |
function <tt>(sum <em>L</em>)</tt> which | |
computes the sum of all numbers in a list <em>L</em>. | |
Compare your solution with the standard pattern of | |
structural recursion. | |
<hr> | |
<p>Sometimes, long traces like the one for list-length | |
may be difficult to read on a terminal screen. | |
Common LISP allows you to capture screen I/O into a file | |
so that you can, for example, produce a hard copy for | |
more comfortable reading. To capture the trace of | |
executing <tt>(recursive-list-length '(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19))</tt>, | |
we use the <tt>dribble</tt> command: | |
<pre> | |
USER(42): (dribble "output.txt") | |
dribbling to file "output.txt" | |
NIL | |
USER(43): (recursive-list-length '(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
0: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
1: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
2: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
3: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (7 11 13 17 19)) | |
4: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (11 13 17 19)) | |
5: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (13 17 19)) | |
6: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (17 19)) | |
7: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (19)) | |
8: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH NIL) | |
8: returned 0 | |
7: returned 1 | |
6: returned 2 | |
5: returned 3 | |
4: returned 4 | |
3: returned 5 | |
2: returned 6 | |
1: returned 7 | |
0: returned 8 | |
8 | |
USER(44): (dribble) | |
</pre> | |
The form <tt>(dribble "output.txt")</tt> instructs Common LISP | |
to begin capturing all terminal I/O into a file called <tt>output.txt</tt>. | |
The trailing <tt>(dribble)</tt> form instructs Common LISP to | |
stop I/O capturing, and closes the file <tt>output.txt</tt>. If we | |
examine <tt>output.txt</tt>, we will see the following: | |
<pre> | |
dribbling to file "output.txt" | |
NIL | |
USER(43): (recursive-list-length '(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
0: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
1: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (3 5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
2: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (5 7 11 13 17 19)) | |
3: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (7 11 13 17 19)) | |
4: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (11 13 17 19)) | |
5: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (13 17 19)) | |
6: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (17 19)) | |
7: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH (19)) | |
8: (RECURSIVE-LIST-LENGTH NIL) | |
8: returned 0 | |
7: returned 1 | |
6: returned 2 | |
5: returned 3 | |
4: returned 4 | |
3: returned 5 | |
2: returned 6 | |
1: returned 7 | |
0: returned 8 | |
8 | |
USER(44): (dribble) | |
</pre> | |
<h2>Symbols</h2> | |
<p>The lists we have seen so far are lists of numbers. Another data | |
type of LISP is <em>symbols</em>. A symbol is simply a sequence | |
of characters: | |
<pre> | |
USER(45): 'a ; LISP is case-insensitive. | |
A | |
USER(46): 'A ; 'a and 'A evaluate to the same symbol. | |
A | |
USER(47): 'apple2 ; Both alphanumeric characters ... | |
APPLE2 | |
USER(48): 'an-apple ; ... and symbolic characters are allowed. | |
AN-APPLE | |
USER(49): t ; Our familiar t is also a symbol. | |
T | |
USER(50): 't ; In addition, quoting is redundant for t. | |
T | |
USER(51): nil ; Our familiar nil is also a symbol. | |
NIL | |
USER(52): 'nil ; Again, it is self-evaluating. | |
NIL | |
</pre> | |
<p>With symbols, we can build more interesting lists: | |
<pre> | |
USER(53): '(how are you today ?) ; A list of symbols. | |
(HOW ARE YOU TODAY ?) | |
USER(54): '(1 + 2 * x) ; A list of symbols and numbers. | |
(1 + 2 * X) | |
USER(55): '(pair (2 3)) ; A list containing 'pair and '(2 3). | |
(pair (2 3)) | |
</pre> | |
Notice that the list <tt>(pair (2 3))</tt> | |
has length 2: | |
<pre> | |
USER(56): (recursive-list-length '(pair (2 3))) | |
2 | |
</pre> | |
Notice also the result of applying accessors: | |
<pre> | |
USER(57): (first '(pair (2 3))) | |
PAIR | |
USER(58): (rest '(pair (2 3))) | |
((2 3)) | |
</pre> | |
Lists containing other lists as members are difficult to understand | |
for beginners. Make sure you understand the above example. | |
<h2>Example: <tt>nth</tt></h2> | |
<p>LISP defines a function <tt>(nth <em>N</em> <em>L</em>)</tt> | |
that returns the <em>N</em>'th member of list <em>L</em> (assuming | |
that the elements are numbered from zero onwards): | |
<pre> | |
USER(59): (nth 0 '(a b c d)) | |
A | |
USER(60): (nth 2 '(a b c d)) | |
C | |
</pre> | |
We could implement our own version of <tt>nth</tt> by linear recursion. | |
Given <em>N</em> and <em>L</em>, either <em>L</em> is <tt>nil</tt> | |
or it is constructed by <tt>cons</tt>. | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 1</em>: <em>L</em> is <tt>nil</tt>.<br> | |
Accessing the <em>N</em>'th element is an undefined operation, | |
and our implementation should arbitrarily return <tt>nil</tt> to | |
indicate this. | |
<li><em>Case 2</em>: <em>L</em> is constructed by a <tt>cons</tt>.<br> | |
Then <em>L</em> | |
has two components: <tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt> and | |
<tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. There are | |
two subcases: either <em>N = 0</em> or <em>N > 0</em>: | |
<ul> | |
<li> <em>Case 2.1</em>: <em>N = 0</em>.<br> | |
The zeroth element of <em>L</em> is simply | |
<tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt>. | |
<li> <em>Case 2.2</em>: <em>N > 0</em>.<br> | |
The <em>N</em>'th | |
member of <em>L</em> is exactly the <em>(N-1)</em>'th member of | |
<tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. | |
</ul> | |
</ul> | |
The following code implements our algorithm: | |
<pre> | |
(defun list-nth (N L) | |
"Return the N'th member of a list L." | |
(if (null L) | |
nil | |
(if (zerop N) | |
(first L) | |
(list-nth (1- N) (rest L))))) | |
</pre> | |
Recall that <tt>(1- N)</tt> is merely a shorthand for <tt>(- N 1)</tt>. | |
Notice that both our implementation and its | |
correctness argument closely follow the standard pattern | |
of structural recursion. | |
Tracing the execution of the function, we get: | |
<pre> | |
USER(61): (list-nth 2 '(a b c d)) | |
0: (LIST-NTH 2 (A B C D)) | |
1: (LIST-NTH 1 (B C D)) | |
2: (LIST-NTH 0 (C D)) | |
2: returned C | |
1: returned C | |
0: returned C | |
C | |
</pre> | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: LISP has a built-in function <tt>(last <em>L</em>)</tt> | |
that returns a the last <tt>cons</tt> structure in a given list <em>L</em>. | |
<pre> | |
USER(62): (last '(a b c d)) | |
(d) | |
USER(63): (last '(1 2 3)) | |
(3) | |
</pre> | |
Implement your own version of <tt>last</tt> | |
using linear recursion. You may assume that <tt>(last nil)</tt> | |
returns <tt>nil</tt>. Compare your implementation with | |
the standard pattern of structural recursion. | |
<hr> | |
<p>Notice that we have a standard if-then-else-if structure | |
in our implementation of <tt>list-nth</tt>. | |
Such logic can alternatively | |
be implemented using the <tt>cond</tt> special form. | |
<pre> | |
(defun list-nth (n L) | |
"Return the n'th member of a list L." | |
(cond | |
((null L) nil) | |
((zerop n) (first L)) | |
(t (list-nth (1- n) (rest L))))) | |
</pre> | |
The <tt>cond</tt> form above is evaluated as follows. The condition | |
<tt>(null L)</tt> is evaluated first. If the result is true, | |
then <tt>nil</tt> is returned. Otherwise, the condition <tt>(zerop n)</tt> | |
is evaluated. If the condition holds, then the value of <tt>(first L)</tt> is | |
returned. In case neither of the conditions holds, | |
the value of <tt>(list-nth | |
(1- n) (rest L))</tt> is returned. | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: Survey CLTL2 section 7.6 (pages 156-161) and find | |
out what other conditional special forms are available in Common LISP. | |
Do you know when the special forms <tt>when</tt> and <tt>unless</tt> | |
should be used instead of <tt>if</tt>? | |
<hr> | |
<h2>Example: <tt>member</tt></h2> | |
<p>LISP defines a function <tt>(member <em>E</em> <em>L</em>)</tt> | |
that returns non-NIL if <em>E</em> is a member of <em>L</em>. | |
<pre> | |
USER(64): (member 'b '(perhaps today is a good day to die)) ; test fails | |
NIL | |
USER(65): (member 'a '(perhaps today is a good day to die)) ; returns non-NIL | |
'(a good day to die) | |
</pre> | |
We implement our own recursive version as follows: | |
<pre> | |
(defun list-member (E L) | |
"Test if E is a member of L." | |
(cond | |
((null L) nil) | |
((eq E (first L)) t) | |
(t (list-member E (rest L))))) | |
</pre> | |
The correctness of the above implementation is easy to justify. The list | |
<em>L</em> is either constructed by <em>nil</em> or by a call to | |
<em>cons</em>: | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 1</em>: <em>L</em> is <tt>nil</tt>.<br> | |
<em>L</em> is | |
empty, and there is no way <em>E</em> is in <em>L</em>. | |
<li><em>Case 2</em>: <em>L</em> | |
is constructed by <tt>cons</tt><br> | |
Then it has two components: | |
<tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt> and <tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. | |
There are two cases, either <tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt> is <em>E</em> | |
itself, or it is not. | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 2.1</em>: <em>E</em> equals <tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt>.<br> | |
This means that <em>E</em> is a member of <em>L</em>, | |
<li><em>Case 2.2</em>: <em>E</em> does not equal <tt>(first <em>L</em>)</tt>.<br> | |
Then <em>E</em> is a member of <em>L</em> iff <em>E</em> is a | |
member of <tt>(rest <em>L</em>)</tt>. | |
</ul> | |
</ul> | |
<p>Tracing the execution of <tt>list-member</tt>, we get the following: | |
<pre> | |
USER(70): (list-member 'a '(perhaps today is a good day to die)) | |
0: (LIST-MEMBER A (PERHAPS TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE)) | |
1: (LIST-MEMBER A (TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE)) | |
2: (LIST-MEMBER A (IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE)) | |
3: (LIST-MEMBER A (A GOOD DAY TO DIE)) | |
3: returned T | |
2: returned T | |
1: returned T | |
0: returned T | |
T | |
</pre> | |
<p>In the implementation of <tt>list-member</tt>, | |
the function call <tt>(eq <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt> tests if two symbols | |
are the same. In fact, the semantics of this test determines what | |
we mean by a member: | |
<pre> | |
USER(71): (list-member '(a b) '((a a) (a b) (a c))) | |
0: (LIST-MEMBER (A B) ((A A) (A B) (A C))) | |
1: (LIST-MEMBER (A B) ((A B) (A C))) | |
2: (LIST-MEMBER (A B) ((A C))) | |
3: (LIST-MEMBER (A B) NIL) | |
3: returned NIL | |
2: returned NIL | |
1: returned NIL | |
0: returned NIL | |
NIL | |
</pre> | |
In the example above, we would have expected a result of <tt>t</tt>. | |
However, since <tt>'(a b)</tt> does not <tt>eq</tt> another copy | |
of <tt>'(a b)</tt> (they are not the same symbol), | |
<tt>list-member</tt> returns <tt>nil</tt>. | |
If we want to account for list equivalence, we could have used | |
the LISP built-in function <tt>equal</tt> instead of <tt>eq</tt>. | |
Common LISP defines the following set of predicates for testing | |
equality: | |
<p><table border=1> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(= <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>True if <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> evaluate to the same number.</td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(eq <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>True if <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> evaluate to the same symbol.</td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(eql <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>True if <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> are either <tt>=</tt> or <tt>eq</tt>.</td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(equal <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>True if <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> are <tt>eql</tt> or if | |
they evaluate to the same list.</td> | |
</tr> | |
<tr> | |
<td><tt>(equalp <em>x</em> <em>y</em>)</tt></td> | |
<td>To be discussed in Tutorial 4.</td> | |
</tr> | |
</table> | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: What would be the behavior of <tt>list-member</tt> | |
if we replace <tt>eq</tt> by <tt>=</tt>? By <tt>eql</tt>? By <tt>equal</tt>? | |
<hr> | |
<h2>Example: <tt>append</tt></h2> | |
<p>LISP defines a function <tt>append</tt> that appends one list by | |
another: | |
<pre> | |
USER(72): (append '(a b c) '(c d e)) | |
(A B C C D E) | |
</pre> | |
We implement a recursive version of <tt>append</tt>. | |
Suppose we are given two lists <em>L1</em> and <em>L2</em>. | |
<em>L1</em> is either <tt>nil</tt> or constructed by <tt>cons</tt>. | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 1</em>: <em>L1</em> is <tt>nil</tt>.<br> | |
Appending <em>L2</em> to | |
<em>L1</em> simply results in <em>L2</em>. | |
<li><em>Case 2</em>: <em>L1</em> | |
is composed of two parts: <tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> and | |
<tt>(rest <em>L1</em>)</tt>. If we know the result of appending <em>L2</em> | |
to <tt>(rest <em>L1</em>)</tt>, then we can take this result, insert | |
<tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> to the front, and we then have | |
the list we want. | |
</ul> | |
<p>Formally, we define the following function: | |
<pre> | |
(defun list-append (L1 L2) | |
"Append L1 by L2." | |
(if (null L1) | |
L2 | |
(cons (first L1) (list-append (rest L1) L2)))) | |
</pre> | |
An execution trace is the following: | |
<pre> | |
USER(73): (list-append '(a b c) '(c d e)) | |
0: (LIST-APPEND (A B C) (C D E)) | |
1: (LIST-APPEND (B C) (C D E)) | |
2: (LIST-APPEND (C) (C D E)) | |
3: (LIST-APPEND NIL (C D E)) | |
3: returned (C D E) | |
2: returned (C C D E) | |
1: returned (B C C D E) | |
0: returned (A B C C D E) | |
(A B C C D E) | |
</pre> | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: LISP defines a function <tt>(butlast <em>L</em>)</tt> | |
that returns a list containing the same elements in <em>L</em> except | |
for the last one. Implement your own version of <tt>butlast</tt> | |
using linear recursion. You may assume that <tt>(butlast nil)</tt> | |
returns <tt>nil</tt>. | |
<hr> | |
<h2>Using Lists as Sets</h2> | |
Formally, lists are ordered sequences. They differ with sets | |
in two ways: | |
<ol> | |
<li>Sets are unordered, but lists are. <tt>(a b c)</tt> | |
and <tt>(c b a)</tt> are two different lists. | |
<li> | |
An element either belong to a set or it does not. There is | |
no notion of multiple occurrences. | |
Yet, a list may contain multiple occurrences of the same element. | |
<tt>(a b b c)</tt> and <tt>(a b c)</tt> are two different lists. | |
</ol> | |
However, one may use lists to approximate sets, although the | |
performance of such implementation is not the greatest. | |
<p>We have already seen how we can use the built-in function <tt>member</tt> | |
to test set membership. LISP also defines functions like | |
<tt>(intersection <em>L1</em> <em>L2</em>)</tt>, | |
<tt>(union <em>L1</em> <em>L2</em>)</tt> | |
and <tt>(difference <em>L1</em> <em>L2</em>)</tt> for | |
boolean operations on sets. In fact, these functions | |
are not difficult to implement. Consider the following | |
implementation of set intersection: | |
<pre> | |
(defun list-intersection (L1 L2) | |
"Return a list containing elements belonging to both L1 and L2." | |
(cond | |
((null L1) nil) | |
((member (first L1) L2) | |
(cons (first L1) (list-intersection (rest L1) L2))) | |
(t (list-intersection (rest L1) L2)))) | |
</pre> | |
The correctness of the implementation is easy to see. | |
<em>L1</em> is either an empty set (<tt>nil</tt>) or it is not: | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 1</em>: <em>L1</em> is an empty set.<br> | |
Then its interection with <em>L2</em> | |
is obviously empty. | |
<li><em>Case 2</em>: <em>L1</em> is not empty.<br> | |
<em>L1</em> has both a <tt>first</tt> | |
component and a <tt>rest</tt> component. There are two cases: | |
either <tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> is a member of <em>L2</em> or it is not. | |
<ul> | |
<li><em>Case 2.1</em>: <tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> is a member | |
of <em>L2</em>.<br> | |
<tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> belongs to both <em>L1</em> | |
and <em>L2</em>, and thus belong to their intersection. Therefore, | |
the intersection of <em>L1</em> and <em>L2</em> is simply | |
<tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> plus the intersection of <tt>(rest <em>L1</em>)</tt> and | |
<em>L2</em>. | |
<li><em>Case 2.2</em>: <tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> is not a member | |
of <em>L2</em>.<br> | |
Since <tt>(first <em>L1</em>)</tt> | |
does not belong to <em>L2</em>, it does not belong to the intersection | |
of <em>L1</em> and <em>L2</em>. As a result, the intersection of | |
<em>L1</em> and <em>L2</em> is exactly the intersection of | |
<tt>(rest <em>L1</em>)</tt> and <em>L2</em>. | |
</ul> | |
</ul> | |
<p>A trace of executing the function is given below: | |
<pre> | |
USER(80): (trace list-intersection) | |
(LIST-INTERSECTION) | |
USER(81): (list-intersection '(1 3 5 7) '(1 2 3 4)) | |
0: (LIST-INTERSECTION (1 3 5 7) (1 2 3 4)) | |
1: (LIST-INTERSECTION (3 5 7) (1 2 3 4)) | |
2: (LIST-INTERSECTION (5 7) (1 2 3 4)) | |
3: (LIST-INTERSECTION (7) (1 2 3 4)) | |
4: (LIST-INTERSECTION NIL (1 2 3 4)) | |
4: returned NIL | |
3: returned NIL | |
2: returned NIL | |
1: returned (3) | |
0: returned (1 3) | |
(1 3) | |
</pre> | |
<p><hr><b>Exercise</b>: Give a linearly recursive implementation of | |
<tt>union</tt> and <tt>difference</tt>. | |
<hr> | |
</body> | |
</html> | |