r - apply a function on data n number of times - r

Question

I would like to apply the same function certain number of times on a vector using the output from the function every time.
A simplified example with a simple function just to demonstrate:
# sample vector
a <- c(1,2,3)
# function to be applied n times
f1 <- function(x) {
x^2 + x^3
}
I would like to apply f1 on a, n number of times, for example here lets say 3 times.
I heard purrr::reduce or purrr::map() might be a good idea for this but couldn't make it work.
The desired output if n = 3 would be equal to f1(f1(f1(a))).

Answer 1

Let's use Reduce (no external library requirements, generally good performance). I'll modify the function slightly to accept a second (ignored) argument:
f1 <- function(x, ign) x^2 + x^3
Reduce(f1, 1:3, init = a)
# [1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
Here's what's happening. Reduce:
uses a binary function to successively combine the elements of a given vector and a possibly given initial value.
The first argument is the function to use, and it should accept two arguments. The first is the value from the previous execution of the function in this reduction. On the first call of the function, it uses the init= value provided.
First call:
f1(c(1,2,3), 1)
# [1] 2 12 36
Second call:
f1(c(2,12,36), 2)
# [1] 12 1872 47952
Third call:
f1(c(12,1872,47952), 3)
# [1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
The second argument 1:3 is used just for its length. Anything of the proper length will work.
If you don't want to redefine f1 just for this reduction, you can always do
Reduce(function(a,ign) f1(a), ...)
Benchmark:
library(microbenchmark)
r <- Reduce(function(a,b) call("f1", a), 1:3, init=quote(a))
triple_f1 <- function(a) f1(f1(f1(a)))
microbenchmark::microbenchmark(
base = Reduce(function(a,ign) f1(a), 1:3, a),
accum = a %>% accumulate(~ .x %>% f1, .init = f1(a)) %>% extract2(3),
reduc = purrr::reduce(1:3, function(a,ign) f1(a), .init=a),
whil = {
i <- 1
a <- c(1,2,3)
while (i < 10) {
i <- i + 1
a <- f1(a)
}
},
forloop = {
out <- a
for(i in seq_len(3)) out <- f1(out)
},
evaluated = {
r <- Reduce(function(a,b) call("f1", a), 1:3, init=quote(a))
eval(r)
},
precompiled = eval(r),
anotherfun = triple_f1(a)
)
# Unit: microseconds
# expr min lq mean median uq max neval
# base 5.101 7.3015 18.28691 9.3010 10.8510 848.302 100
# accum 294.201 328.4015 381.21204 356.1520 402.6510 823.602 100
# reduc 27.000 38.1005 57.55694 45.2510 54.2005 747.401 100
# whil 1717.300 1814.3510 1949.03100 1861.8510 1948.9510 2931.001 100
# forloop 1110.001 1167.1010 1369.87696 1205.5010 1292.6500 9935.501 100
# evaluated 6.702 10.2505 22.18598 13.3015 15.5510 715.301 100
# precompiled 2.300 3.2005 4.69090 4.0005 4.5010 26.800 100
# anotherfun 1.400 2.0515 12.85201 2.5010 3.3505 1017.801 100

Answer 2

i <- 1
while (i < 10) {
i <- i + 1
x <- f(x)
}

Answer 3

Here is an option with accumulate
library(tidyverse)
n <- 3
a %>%
accumulate(~ .x %>%
f1, .init = f1(a)) %>%
extract2(n)
#[1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
NOTE: accumulate is similar to the base R option Reduce with accumulate = TRUE
checking with the OP's output
f1(f1(f1(a)))
#[1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
Or use a for loop (no external libraries used)
out <- a
for(i in seq_len(n)) out <- f1(out)
out
#[1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14

Answer 4

Here's another way to do it with Reduce:
setting the stage
a <- 1:3
f1 <- function(x) x^2 + x^3
constructing a call and evaluating it
N <- 3 # how many times?
r <- Reduce(function(a,b) call("f1", a), rep(NA, N), init=a)
# f1(f1(f1(1:3)))
eval(r)
# [1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
alternative 2
# N defined as above
Reduce(function(x,y) y(x), replicate(N,f1), init=a)
# [1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
alternative 3 (recursive with a global-like variable)
doit <- function(N) {
i <- 0
function(fun, x){
i <<- i +1
if(i < N) Recall(fun, fun(x)) else fun(x)
}
}
doit(3)(f1, a)
# [1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14
... or even
doit <- function(N, fun, x) (function(fun, x)
if((N <<- N - 1) > 0)
Recall(fun, fun(x)) else
fun(x))(fun, x)
doit(3, f1, a)
# [1] 1.872000e+03 6.563711e+09 1.102629e+14