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I'd like to write a function, that would take a matrix as an input parameter and would change it by multiplying one of its rows by a factor.

I try to do it in the following way:

matrix=Table[i*j,{i,Range@2},{j,Range@2}]
MultiplyRowByFactor[m_,factor_,iRow_]:=Module[{},m[[All,iRow]]*=factor;m]
MultiplyRowByFactor[matrix,2,1]

and get an error message 

Set::setps: "{{1,2},{2,4}} in the part assignment is not a symbol. "

Of course, if I change the matrix outside of the function:

matrix[[All,1]]*=2;
matrix

everything works as expected.

What is the problem and how can I write a function to modify a matrix "in place"?

user1541776
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    You need to set HoldFirst attribute for your function. Also, do not use Module if you are not going to scope anything, it will only slow you down. – Kuba Apr 28 '14 at 18:10
  • @Kuba, thank you for the comment and for the links. – user1541776 Apr 28 '14 at 23:55

1 Answers1

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To prevent m from evaluating to its value, use the following command:

SetAttributes[MultiplyRowByFactor, HoldFirst];

Just once, right after the declaration of MultiplyRowByFactor. Now the first argument of this function, which is just m, is held, and everything works.

colt_browning
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