AQA Computer Science A-Level
4.12.1 Functional programming
paradigm
Concise Notes
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Specification:
4.12.1.1 Function type
Know that a function, f, has a function type f: A → B (where the type
is A → B, A is the argument type, and B is the result type).
Know that A is called the domain and B is called the co-domain.
Know that the domain and co-domain are always subsets of objects
in some data type.
Loosely speaking, a function is a rule that, for each element in some
set A of inputs, assigns an output chosen from set B, but without
necessarily using every member of B. For example, f: {a,b,c,…z} →
{0,1,2,…,25} could use the rule that maps a to 0, b to 1, and so on, using all
values which are members of set B.
The domain is a set from which the function’s input values are
chosen.
The co-domain is a set from which the function’s output values are
chosen. Not all of the codomain’s members need to be outputs.
4.12.1.2 First-class object
Know that a function is a first-class object in functional programming
languages and in imperative programming languages that support such
objects.
This means that it can be an argument to another function as well as
the result of a function call.
First-class objects (or values) are objects which may:
• appear in expressions
• be assigned to a variable
• be assigned as arguments
• be returned in function calls.
For example, integers, floating-point values, characters and strings
are first class objects in many programming languages.
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4.12.1.3 Function application
Know that function application means a function applied to its
arguments.
The process of giving particular inputs to a function is called function
application, for example add(3,4) represents the application of the function
add to integer arguments 3 and 4. The type of the function is f: integer x
integer → integer where integer x integer is the Cartesian product of the set
integer with itself. Although we would say that function f takes two
arguments, in fact it takes only one argument, which is a pair, for example
(3,4).
4.12.1.4 Partial function application
Know what is meant by partial function application for one, two and
three argument functions and be able to use the notations shown opposite.
The function add takes two integers as arguments and gives an integer as
a result. Viewed as follows in the partial function application scheme: add:
integer → (integer → integer) add 4 returns a function which when applied
to another integer adds 4 to that integer. The brackets may be dropped so
function add becomes add: integer → integer → integer The function add is
now viewed as taking one argument after another and returning a result of
data type integer.
4.12.1.5 Composition of functions
Know what is meant by composition of functions. The operation
functional composition combines two functions to get a new function. Given
two functions f: A → B g: B → C function g ○ f, called the composition of g
and f, is a function whose domain is A and co-domain is C. If the domain
and co-domains of f and g are ℝ, and f(x) = (x + 2) and g(y) = y3 . Then g ○
f = (x + 2)3 f is applied first and then g is applied to the result returned by f.
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Functions
● Rules that, for each element in some set A of inputs, assigns an output chosen
from set B
● Does not necessarily use every member of B
● An argument is a piece of data passed to a function
● Functions are said to be applied to their arguments, creating the return value
● An argument could be a number (0, 1, 3.4, -8 e.t.c), a character (“a”, “D”, “!” e.t.c)
or any other data type
● Functions will specify what data type is required for their arguments
Function Types
● All functions have a function type
● If f i s a function, A is the input and B is the output, the function type can be
defined as the following:
● A is known as the argument type, and B is the result type
● This means function f maps A to B
● The set of inputs (A) is described as the domain
● The set of outputs (B) is called the co-domain
● The domain and co-domain are always subsets of objects in some data type
First-class objects
● Objects (or values) are objects which may:
○ appear in expressions
○ be assigned to a variable
○ be assigned as arguments
○ be returned in function calls
● Examples of first-class objects in procedural programs include integers,
floating-point values, characters and strings
● In functional programming, functions are first-class objects
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Function application
● A function’s arguments are said to be applied to the function
● The process of giving particular input to a function is called function application
Partial function application
● Partial function application takes advantage of the inability of a function to take
more than one input
● In partial function application, one of the arguments is fixed, leading to a more
restricted, specialised function
● For example, the function add 2 3would be broken down into the new function
add 2 and the parameter 3
Composition of functions
● Function composition is the process of combining two functions to create a new
function
● The user is able to use the functions both separately, and in conjunction
● Any two functions can be combined as long as the domain of one of the functions
is the same as the co-domain of the other
● The symbol ○ indicates that two functions are being combined
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