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I'm trying to run this:

domain := {n, 0, 10}; Plot[n, domain]

but it doesn't work. Instead, it generates the message

Plot::pllim: Range specification domain is not of the form {x, xmin, xmax}.

and returns

Plot[n, domain].

Why?

I've also tried alternatives such as using =, or trying to define Domain[n_] = {n, 0, 10} but it all seemed to be of no avail.

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  • $\begingroup$ Works as-is in version 12. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 21, 2020 at 22:09

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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Use:

domain := {n, 0, 10}; Plot[n, Evaluate[domain]]

Plot has the HoldAll attribute which prevents domain from evaluating:

Attributes[Plot] {HoldAll, Protected}
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  • $\begingroup$ @Szabolcs, I think I should transfer half my reputation, since you make my terse posts actually readable. Thanks once more. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 28, 2012 at 13:53
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Indeed the cause is the evaluation order resulting from the HoldAll attribute of Plot. Here are several ways to get around this:

domain := {n, 0, 10}; Plot[n, Evaluate[domain]] Plot[n, #] & @ domain With[{d = domain}, Plot[n, d]] {domain} /. {d__} :> Plot[n, d]
  • I normally favor the method using Function (&) for its brevity.
  • I think With can be the most easy to read in longer expressions.
  • The last method is specialized and is helpful in difficult operations.
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Alternatively, I only define the range but not the iterator variable, as it is then outside of its scope (n in Plot[f, {n, 0, 1}] is local to Plot):

domain = {0, 10}; Plot[n, {n, First[domain], Last[domain]}]

or

domain = {0, 10}; Plot[n, Evaluate@{n, Sequence @@ domain}]
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