[Edu-sig] Re: Long Integer Fractions

[Kirby Urner]

At 12:11 PM 05/17/2000 -0500, Matthias Felleisen wrote:
>
>   As I recall, SmallTalk has native integer fractions.  Scheme too?
>
>Scheme has had precise rational arithmetic from the beginning. 

Yes, that was my recollection.  Thanks.

>You should also know that the first AP case study for the C++ exam focused
>on large ints. If you approach schools with this material, you must know 
>what exists. Otherwise AP teachers will think you're uninformed and you're 
>just trying to push a new syntax on them. 

Yes, point taken.

Please note that I'm not pushing anything re AP computer science.  
I'm simply prototyping how to teach a regular, garden variety 
mathematics curriculum with some computer language as part of 
the mix.  This is the next step after the current "graphing 
calculator" craze is over.

>Read up on your competition. 

Good advice, thanks again.  Note that my competition is less
C/C++ and more TI (Texas Instruments).

Kirby