Question

Numpy can manipulate matrix. And matrix element can be got via numerical indexes.

Now, say I have a 3*3 square matrix M
(Actually, it is a Malcov transition matrix, where each element speaks the probability from one state switching to another).

And the row and column both represent rain, snow, niceday in order.

[0.5 ,0.25,0.25
 1   , 0  , 0
 0.25,0.25,0.5]

Ordinarily, if I want to get the (rain,snow) element, I would have to write M[0,1].

But I think this is not readable enough.

So I wonder if I can get such element M[‘rain’,’snow’], if I have defined such dict-like matrix before(if it is allowed numpy matrix manipulation rule)

Answer 1

You can set the variables rain, snow and niceday and use this variables instead the numbers

rain = 0
snow = 1
M[rain, snow]