sub N_scalars {
  my ($prefix, $qty) = @_;
  ...unknown magic here...
}

##</code><code>##

N_scalars("foo",5);

##</code><code>##

$foo_1 = '';
$foo_2 = '';
$foo_3 = '';
$foo_4 = '';
$foo_5 = '';

##</code><code>##

sub arb_scalars {
  foreach $foo (@_) {
    ...unknown magic here...
  }
}

##</code><code>##

arb_scalars("alfa","bravo","charlie");

##</code><code>##

$alpha = '';
$bravo = '';
$charlie = '';