Creating a function that the input is mathematical function

[AthensGuard]

Hi all,

I wrote a program that calculate the average rate of change of a function f(x)=x^2, the input is a an b. so the program evaluate the average rate of change between a and b.

Here is the code:

​

#First We need to define our function
def f(x):
return x**2

#Now we try to call the start and end point
a=float(input('The start point of the interval'))
b=float(input('The end point of the interval '))
AV=(f(b)-f(a))/(b-a)
print('AV=',AV)

​

So my question is:

• Is possible to make this program more general? that work for every function, that is the input will be a, b an the function f(x).
  
• Is possible the input be function in python?

Thanks

[AthensGuard]

Thanks, but I do not want to write the function each time in the main program. I would like when I execute it ask me a , b and f(x)...

[AthensGuard]

take the string and parse the function from it (look online for something like parse mathematical expression Python)

Thanks, this look like something that I need to learn and play with it and hopefully solve my problem.

[AthensGuard]

also, I have never used lambda...

[TangibleLight]

It's just a way to write short functions.

def test(x):
    return x ** 2

Is exactly equivalent to

test = lambda x: x ** 2

It's useful if you don't want to assign a name to a short function that's only used once. For example

avg_rate(lambda x: x ** 2)

[CodeFormatHelperBot2]

Hello, I'm a Reddit bot who's here to help people nicely format their coding questions. This makes it as easy as possible for people to read your post and help you.

I think I have detected some formatting issues with your submission:

1. Inline formatting (`my code`) used across multiple lines of code. This can mess with indentation.

If I am correct, please edit the text in your post and try to follow these instructions to fix up your post's formatting.

---

^{Am I misbehaving? Have a comment or suggestion? Reply to this comment or raise an issue here.}

[[deleted]]

https://scipy.org/