List generation via Array in Wolfram Language - wolfram-mathematica

Question

I have a code where we first need to generate n + 1 numbers in a range with a given step. However, I don't understand how and why it works:
a = 2;
b = 7;
h = (b-a)/n;
x[0] = a;
Array[x, n+1, 0];
For[i = 0, i < n + 1, i++, x[i] = a + h*i]
My questions are:
Are elements of x automatically generated when accessed? There's no mention of x before the line x[0] = a
Shouldn't index access be like x[[i]]?
What exactly does Array do here? It isn't assigned to anything which confuses me

Answer 1

Try Range[2,10,2] for a range of numbers from 2 to 10 in steps of 2, etc.
Beyond that there some faults in your code, or perhaps in your understanding of Mathematica ...
x[0] = a defines a function called x which, when presented with argument 0 returns a (or a's value since it is previously defined). Mathematica is particular about the bracketing characters used [ and ] enclose function argument lists. Since there is no other definition for the function x (at least not that we can see here) then it will return unevaluated for any argument other than 0.
And you are right, doubled square brackets, ie [[ and ]], are used to enclose index values. x[[2]] would indeed refer to the second element of a list called x. Note that Mathematica indexes from 1 so x[[0]] would produce an error if x existed and was a list.
The expression Array[x, n+1, 0] does return a value, but it is not assigned to any symbol so is lost. And the trailing ; on the line suppresses Mathematica's default behaviour to print the return value of any expression you execute.
Finally, on the issue of the use of For to make lists of values, refer to https://mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/7924/alternatives-to-procedural-loops-and-iterating-over-lists-in-mathematica. And perhaps ask further Mathematica questions at that site, the real experts on the system are much more likely to be found there.
I suppose I might add ... if you are committed to using Array for some reason ask another question specifically about that. As you might (not) realise, I recommend not using that function to create a list of numbers.

Answer 2

From the docs, Array[f, n, r] generates a list using the index origin r.
On its own Array[x, n + 1, 0] just produces a list of x functions, e.g.
n = 4;
Array[x, n + 1, 0]
{x[0], x[1], x[2], x[3], x[4]}
If x is defined it is applied, e.g.
x[arg_] := arg^2
Array[x, 4 + 1, 0]
{0, 1, 4, 9, 16}
Alternatively, to use x as a function variable the Array can be set like so
Clear[x]
With[{z = Array[x, n + 1, 0]}, z = {m, n, o, p, q}]
{x[0], x[1], x[2], x[3], x[4]}
{m, n, o, p, q}
The OP's code sets function variables of x in the For loop, e.g.
Still with n = 4
a = 2;
b = 7;
h = (b - a)/n;
For[i = 0, i < n + 1, i++, x[i] = a + h*i]
which can be displayed by Array[x, n + 1, 0]
{2, 13/4, 9/2, 23/4, 7}
also x[0] == 2
True
The same could be accomplished thusly
Clear[x]
With[{z = Array[x, n + 1, 0]}, z = Table[a + h*i, {i, 0, 4}]]
{2, 13/4, 9/2, 23/4, 7}
Note also DownValues[x] shows the function definitions
{HoldPattern[x[0]] :> 2,
HoldPattern[x[1]] :> 13/4,
HoldPattern[x[2]] :> 9/2,
HoldPattern[x[3]] :> 23/4,
HoldPattern[x[4]] :> 7}