[Haskell-cafe] Non-Overlapping Patterns

Hi isZero :: Int -> Bool isZero 0 = True isZero n | n /= 0 = False The order in which the above equations appear makes no difference to the application of isZero. Does the Haskell interpreter rewrite patterns into one single definition using some sort of switch or if construct? Why does an equation without a guard have to be placed after the more specific cases?To put it another way, why doesn't the interpreter identify the more specific cases and put them before the general ones. Cheers Paul