Re: [q-lang-users] Unparse on Rationals

[John C. <co...@cc...>]

Rob Hubbard scripsit:

> I wondered whether it would be preferable to present, for example:
> 
>     3%1  as just  3
>         The LHS has the advantage of looking like the rational it is
>         The RHS is clearly simpler

I prefer the RHS here, but worry about people being misled by it.
Would you want to see 3+0*i as 3 also?

>     11%5  as  2+1%5
>         The LHS is simpler this time
>         The magnitude of the RHS more obvious (i.e. that it's "2 and a bit")

I definitely prefer the LHS in this case, because 2+1%5+3+2%5*i is
completely misleading (or would it be parenthesized by the unparser?)

-- 
John Cowan   <co...@cc...>   http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
One time I called in to the central system and started working on a big
thick 'sed' and 'awk' heavy duty data bashing script.  One of the geologists
came by, looked over my shoulder and said 'Oh, that happens to me too.
Try hanging up and phoning in again.'  --Beverly Erlebacher