How to Effortlessly Use np.linspace in Python

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np.linspace(): Create Evenly or Non-Evenly Spaced Arrays

When working with numerical applications in Python, particularly with NumPy, it is often necessary to create arrays of numbers. In many cases, it is desired for the numbers to be evenly spaced, but there are also situations where non-evenly spaced numbers are needed. An essential tool for both scenarios is np.linspace().

Creating Ranges of Numbers With Even Spacing

There are multiple ways to create a range of evenly spaced numbers in Python. One of these methods is to use np.linspace(), which allows for customization of the range to meet specific requirements. However, it is not the only option available. In the following section, the usage of np.linspace() will be explored, followed by a comparison with other methods for generating evenly spaced numbers.

Using np.linspace()

The np.linspace() function requires two parameters: start and stop, which define the beginning and end of the desired range. Here is an example:

import numpy as np
np.linspace(1, 10)

This code will create an array with evenly spaced numbers ranging from 1 to 10. The output will be as follows:

array([ 1.        ,  1.18367347,  1.36734694,  1.55102041,  1.73469388,
        1.91836735,  2.10204082,  2.28571429,  2.46938776,  2.65306122,
        2.83673469,  3.02040816,  3.20408163,  3.3877551 ,  3.57142857,
        3.75510204,  3.93877551,  4.12244898,  4.30612245,  4.48979592,
        4.67346939,  4.85714286,  5.04081633,  5.2244898 ,  5.40816327,
        5.59183673,  5.7755102 ,  5.95918367,  6.14285714,  6.32653061,
        6.51020408,  6.69387755,  6.87755102,  7.06122449,  7.24489796,
        7.42857143,  7.6122449 ,  7.79591837,  7.97959184,  8.16326531,
        8.34693878,  8.53061224,  8.71428571,  8.89795918,  9.08163265,
        9.26530612,  9.44897959,  9.63265306,  9.81632653, 10.        ])

In this case, the resulting array contains 50 evenly spaced numbers from 1 to 10.

Using range() and List Comprehensions

Another way to generate a range of evenly spaced numbers in Python is by using range() and list comprehensions. This method is commonly used when a smaller range or a specific step size is required. Here is the equivalent code using this approach:

numbers = [1 + i * (10-1) / (50-1) for i in range(50)]

The range() function in this code is used to generate a sequence of numbers starting from 0 up to 49. The list comprehension then calculates each element of the list based on the desired range and step size. The resulting list will have the same values as the array generated by np.linspace() in the previous example.

Using np.arange()

Similar to np.linspace(), the np.arange() function can be used to create evenly spaced arrays in Python. The main difference is that np.arange() allows for non-floating point step sizes. Here is an example:

np.arange(1, 10, 0.2)

This code will generate an array with evenly spaced numbers ranging from 1 to 10 with a step size of 0.2. The output will be:

array([1. , 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2. , 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3. , 3.2, 3.4,
       3.6, 3.8, 4. , 4.2, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5. , 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 6. ,
       6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, 7. , 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, 8. , 8.2, 8.4, 8.6,
       8.8, 9. , 9.2, 9.4, 9.6, 9.8])

In this case, the array contains numbers from 1 to 10 with a step size of 0.2.

Customizing the Output From np.linspace()

The np.linspace() function provides several optional parameters that allow for customization of the output array. These parameters can be used to control the number of elements in the array, change the data type of the array, and more. The following sections describe each of these parameters and provide examples of their usage.