Question

suppose i a have a multiplicative expression with lots of multiplicands (small expressions)

expression = a*b*c*d*....*w   

where for example c is (x-1), d is (y**2-16), k is (xy-60)….. x,y are numbers
and i know that c,d,k,j maybe zero
Does the order i write the expression matters for faster evaluation?
Is it better to write cdkj….*w or python will evaluate all expression no matter the order i write?

Answer 1

Python v2.6.5 does not check for zero values.

def foo():
    a = 1
    b = 2
    c = 0
    return a * b * c

>>> import dis
>>> dis.dis(foo)
  2           0 LOAD_CONST               1 (1)
              3 STORE_FAST               0 (a)

  3           6 LOAD_CONST               2 (2)
              9 STORE_FAST               1 (b)

  4          12 LOAD_CONST               3 (3)
             15 STORE_FAST               2 (c)

  5          18 LOAD_FAST                0 (a)
             21 LOAD_FAST                1 (b)
             24 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
             25 LOAD_FAST                2 (c)
             28 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
             29 RETURN_VALUE        

Update: I tested Baldur‘s expressions, and Python can and will optimize code that involve constant expressions. The weird is that test6 isn’t optimized.

def test1():
    return 0 * 1

def test2():
    a = 1
    return 0 * a * 1

def test3():
    return 243*(5539**35)*0

def test4():
    return 0*243*(5539**35)

def test5():
    return (256**256)*0

def test6():
    return 0*(256**256)

>>> dis.dis(test1) # 0 * 1
  2           0 LOAD_CONST               3 (0)
              3 RETURN_VALUE       

>>> dis.dis(test2) # 0 * a * 1
  5           0 LOAD_CONST               1 (1)
              3 STORE_FAST               0 (a)

  6           6 LOAD_CONST               2 (0)
              9 LOAD_FAST                0 (a)
             12 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
             13 LOAD_CONST               1 (1)
             16 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
             17 RETURN_VALUE        

>>> dis.dis(test3) # 243*(5539**35)*0
  9           0 LOAD_CONST               1 (243)
              3 LOAD_CONST               5 (104736434394484...681759461305771899L)
              6 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
              7 LOAD_CONST               4 (0)
             10 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
             11 RETURN_VALUE        

>>> dis.dis(test4) # 0*243*(5539**35)
 12           0 LOAD_CONST               5 (0)
              3 LOAD_CONST               6 (104736433252667...001759461305771899L)
              6 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
              7 RETURN_VALUE        

>>> dis.dis(test5) # (256**256)*0
 15           0 LOAD_CONST               4 (0L)
              3 RETURN_VALUE        

>>> dis.dis(test6) # 0*(256**256)
 18           0 LOAD_CONST               1 (0)
              3 LOAD_CONST               3 (323170060713110...853611059596230656L)
              6 BINARY_MULTIPLY     
              7 RETURN_VALUE        

In brief, if the expression includes variables, the order doesn’t matter. Everything will be evaluated.