Re: Thinking about MINUS

Bob Badour <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote:

>Gene Wirchenko wrote:
>
>> Bob Badour <bbadour_at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>>>Unless we make one up, we have no + operation that operates on numbers
>>>and strings. Similarly, we have no < comparison that operates on numbers
>>>and strings. However, the equality comparison operates on any two values
>>>(unless we go out of our way to redefine it otherwise.)
>>>
>>>Semantically, it makes no sense to say "This orange is less than that
>>
>>
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>
>>>apple"; however, it makes perfect sense to say "This orange is not that
>>
>> ^^^^^^
>> I would substitute 'Similarly, it makes no sense to say "This
>> orange is less than that apple", unless we have defined a less than
>> operator.' For example, the comparison might be of weight or of cost.
>
>But then the question becomes: "Is this weight less than that weight?"
>and "Is this cost less than that cost?" which are completely different
>questions.

     One is a question WITHOUT a defined answer.
     One is a question WITH a defined answer.

     Asking the first type of question is pointless.

[snip]

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

Computerese Irregular Verb Conjugation:

     I have preferences.
     You have biases.
     He/She has prejudices.