Scripting Guide - SAS

Chapter 8 Programming Methods 227
Additional Numeric Operators
F, Beta, Chi-square, t, Gamma, and Weibull distributions are supported for the first arguments in their
Distribution and Quantile functions. If it encounters an expression that it cannot convert, Invert Expr()
returns Empty().
JSL provides a Simplify Expr command that takes a messy, complex formula and tries to simplify it using
various algebraic rules. To use it, submit
or
result = Simplify Expr(expr(expression));
result = Simplify Expr(nameExpr(global));
For example,
Simplify Expr (expr(2*3*a+b*(a+3-c)-a*b));
results in
6*a + 3*b + -1*b*c
Simplify Expr also unwinds nested If expressions. For example:
r = simplifyExpr(
expr(If(cond1,result1,if(cond2,result2,if(cond3,result3,resultElse)))));
results in
If(cond1, result1, cond2, result2, cond3, result3, resultElse);
Maximize and Minimize
The Maximize and Minimize functions find the factor values that optimize an expression. The expression
is assumed to be a continuous function of the factor values.
The form of the call is
result = Maximize(objectiveExpression,{list of factor names},