$a[ $_ * 20 ] = $_ for 1 .. 1e5;; $found = 0; say time; defined( $a[ $_ ] ) and ++$found for 1 .. 20e5; say time; say $found;; 1359141040.60138 1359141041.00958 100000 $h{ $_ * 20 } = $_ for 1 .. 1e5;; $found = 0; say time; exists( $h{ $_ } ) and ++$found for 1 .. 20e5; say time; say $found;; 1359141122.04252 1359141123.06596 100000