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Fixed parameters vs arguments use and wording regarding substitution #1242

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4 changes: 2 additions & 2 deletions _tour/variances.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ Fortunately, the compiler stops us long before we could get this far.

### Other Examples

Another example that can help one understand variance is `trait Function1[-T, +R]` from the Scala standard library. `Function1` represents a function with one argument, where the first type parameter `T` represents the argument type, and the second type parameter `R` represents the return type. A `Function1` is contravariant over its argument type, and covariant over its return type. For this example we'll use the literal notation `A => B` to represent a `Function1[A, B]`.
Another example that can help one understand variance is `trait Function1[-T, +R]` from the Scala standard library. `Function1` represents a function with one parameter, where the first type parameter `T` represents the parameter type, and the second type parameter `R` represents the return type. A `Function1` is contravariant over its argument type, and covariant over its return type. For this example we'll use the literal notation `A => B` to represent a `Function1[A, B]`.

Assume the similar `Cat`, `Dog`, `Animal` inheritance tree used earlier, plus the following:

Expand All @@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ abstract class SmallAnimal extends Animal
case class Mouse(name: String) extends SmallAnimal
```

Suppose we're working with functions that accept types of animals, and return the types of food they eat. If we would like a `Cat => SmallAnimal` (because cats eat small animals), but are given a `Animal => Mouse` instead, our program will still work. Intuitively an `Animal => Mouse` will still accept a `Cat` as an argument, because a `Cat` is an `Animal`, and it returns a `Mouse`, which is also a `SmallAnimal`. Since we can safely and invisibly substitute the former for the latter, we can say `Animal => Mouse` is a subtype of `Cat => SmallAnimal`.
Suppose we're working with functions that accept types of animals, and return the types of food they eat. If we would like a `Cat => SmallAnimal` (because cats eat small animals), but are given a `Animal => Mouse` instead, our program will still work. Intuitively an `Animal => Mouse` will still accept a `Cat` as an argument, because a `Cat` is an `Animal`, and it returns a `Mouse`, which is also a `SmallAnimal`. Since we can safely and invisibly substitute the former by the latter, we can say `Animal => Mouse` is a subtype of `Cat => SmallAnimal`.

### Comparison With Other Languages

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