But note that x `seq` x is equivalent to x, even operationally. To see why denotationally, note that if x evaluates to _|_, so does x `seq` x. And if x evaluates to a value v, so does x `seq` x. To see why operationally, consider the two lists: let x = 1+1 in [x `seq` x] let x = 1+1 in [x] Using conventional lazy evaluation in both cases, the term "1+1" is not evaluated until the head of the list is taken. In other words, x `seq` x in no way hurries the evaluation of x. -Paul Wolfgang Jeltsch wrote:
Am Samstag, 8. November 2003, 00:22 schrieb Hamilton Richards:
Also note that if x then True else False is just a verbose way of writing x
Actually, it's just a verbose way of writing x `seq` x, but this detail is, of course, not interesting for beginners.
Wolfgang