[R] Function not returning a vector?

[Nordlund, Dan (DSHS/RDA)]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-help-bounces at r-project.org 
> [mailto:r-help-bounces at r-project.org] On Behalf Of 
> rkevinburton at charter.net
> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:36 AM
> To: r-help at r-project.org
> Subject: [R] Function not returning a vector?
> 
> Why does:
> 
> (shape/scale) * (1:365/scale)^(shape - 1)
> 
> return a vector of numbers but calling a function
> 
> hasard(1:365,shape,scale)
> 
> defined like:
> 
> hazard <- function(x,shape,scale)
> {
>    return (shape/scale) * (x/scale)^(shape - 1)
> }
> 
> Only return a single value? It is like x becomes a single 
> value passed as an argument.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Kevin
> 

Change your function definition to one of the following (I don't know which is "better").

hazard <- function(x,shape,scale)
{  
   return( (shape/scale) * (x/scale)^(shape - 1) )
}

hazard <- function(x,shape,scale)
{
   (shape/scale) * (x/scale)^(shape - 1)
}

Hope this is helpful,

Dan

Daniel J. Nordlund
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Planning, Performance, and Accountability
Research and Data Analysis Division
Olympia, WA  98504-5204