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I have an expression:

exp = a+b+c

and a list containing all the symbols of my expression:

syms = {a,b,c}

and I would like to replace the symbols with numerical values. I have a list containing the numerical values:

val = {1,2,3}

and I would like to perform something like this:

 exp/.syms->val

to get: 1+2+3

But this doesn't work. Do you know why?

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    $\begingroup$ Have a look at Thread. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 22, 2014 at 9:19

2 Answers 2

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You need to do 

 exp /. Thread[syms -> val] (* 6 *)

the reason exp /. syms -> val does not work can be seen by doing trace:

 Trace[exp /. syms -> val]

Mathematica graphics

You can see it was looking for a+b+c/.{a,b,c}->{1,2,3} and since there is no pattern {a,b,c} then it does not work.

With Thread, you basically break it to a->1,b->2,c->3 then it works.

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to get: 1+2+3

you can use any of:

exp /. Thread[syms -> (Defer /@ val)] exp /. Thread[syms -> (HoldForm /@ val)] Defer[Evaluate@exp] /. Thread[syms -> val] HoldForm[Evaluate@exp] /. Thread[syms -> val]
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