[Numpy-discussion] Re: numpy, overflow, inf, ieee, and rich comparison
Charles Boncelet
boncelet at udel.edu
Fri Oct 27 13:59:57 EDT 2000
Greg Ewing wrote:
>
> As a serious programmer, what I want is a straightforward
> and efficient way to specify the operation I want performed.
>
You have phrased it quite clearly. I can't agree more.
> Truncating and non-truncating division are very different
> operations, used for very different purposes. Which one
> I want depends on the algorithm I'm implementing. Whenever
> I write a division in my code, I know which one I want.
> But the only way I can tell Python which one to use
> is indirectly, by manipulating the types of operands
> I feed to the / operator.
In my programs, I manage this issue by trying to never
mix integer and floating point arithmetic. In C or Fortran,
one can declare a variable to hold an integer or a float.
Then a single division symbol (/) is sufficient.
This thread started with the observation that Guido thinks
that 2/3=0 was an incorrect design decision. Let me propose
that 2/3=0 is a correct design decision. The *incorrect*
decision was to leave the behavior of A/2 undetermined
until the type of A is determined.
If we need a second division symbol, let me suggest "//",
i.e., 2//3 = 0.666...
>
> To me, this is so obviously wrong that I can't understand
> how any serious programmer could think it was right.
Well, since you put it that way, I have no option but to
agree. :-)
Charlie Boncelet
--
Charles Boncelet 302-831-8008
Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering 302-831-4316 (fax)
University of Delaware boncelet at eecis.udel.edu
http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~boncelet/
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