[Python-ideas] Left division operator

[MRAB]

On 17/07/2011 18:05, Sturla Molden wrote:
> Den 17.07.2011 18:27, skrev Steven D'Aprano:
>>
>> tmp = denominator() # Evaluate this first, because it has side-effects.
>> result = numerator()/tmp
>
> The order of the arguments is lost to the division operator.
>
>>
>> you can write this:
>>
>> result = denominator()\numerator()
>
> Only for real numbers.
>
> result = denominator()\numerator()
>
> would be equivalent to
>
> tmp = 1/denominator()
> result = tmp * numerator()
>
> But please ignore this suggestion, I agree that it is a bad suggestion.
>
> There is a better solution for this particular problem, which is to make
> 1/x return a new type, so that (1/x)*y evalutes differenty from y*(1/x).
> So I am thinking of suggesting addition of an "inverted matrix" type to
> NumPy instead.
>
If there's a reverse division operator, then why not a reverse
subtraction operator too? Or a reverse modulo operator?