From: Matthew Kerwin <matthew@...>
Date: 2012-11-12T06:38:38+09:00
Subject: [ruby-core:49235] Re: [ruby-trunk - Feature #7328] Move ** operator precedence under unary + and -

--047d7b338dd3ede1b904ce3f0112
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Can I just point out that everyone is using asterisks and carets and
arguing about standard mathematical notation?

I reckon the biggest factor driving this discussion should be existing
behaviour. Changing how operators behave is probably the single biggest
thing that defines and thus changes a language.

If you were writing a new language, however, I'd find this disussion and
its outcome fascinating.
On Nov 12, 2012 6:37 AM, "marcandre (Marc-Andre Lafortune)" <
ruby-core@marc-andre.ca> wrote:

>
> Issue #7328 has been updated by marcandre (Marc-Andre Lafortune).
>
>
> Hi,
>
> trans (Thomas Sawyer) wrote:
> > "Thomas: Please check your facts, e.g.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations#Exceptions_to_the_standard
> "
> >
> > 1) I did not make this issue.
>
> My understanding is that the original poster was wondering why the
> precedence was like that and that he would have preferred it the other way.
> Alexey answered correctly that the reason was because of the order or
> operations in mathematics.
>
> I only wanted to suggest that before contradicting someone it was a good
> idea to check the facts, in particular if one isn't extremely familiar with
> the field. I didn't mean to offend and I'm sorry if I did.
>
> ----------------------------------------
> Feature #7328: Move ** operator precedence under unary + and -
> https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/7328#change-32791
>
> Author: boris_stitnicky (Boris Stitnicky)
> Status: Rejected
> Priority: Normal
> Assignee:
> Category:
> Target version:
>
>
> I would like to ask to consider decreasing ** operator precedence just
> below that of -/+ unary operators. I know that other languages (eg. Python)
> have ** operator bind tighter than negation, but seeing -1 ** 0.5 give the
> result -1 and having to type parenthesis (-1) ** 0.5... Even if it's not
> worth changing, I'd like to hear this rationalized. I've asked about
> rationalization of this on SO, and nobody seems to know why this precedence
> is the way it is.
>
>
> --
> http://bugs.ruby-lang.org/
>
>

--047d7b338dd3ede1b904ce3f0112
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<p>Can I just point out that everyone is using asterisks and carets and arg=
uing about standard mathematical notation?</p>
<p>I reckon the biggest factor driving this discussion should be existing b=
ehaviour. Changing how operators behave is probably the single biggest thin=
g that defines and thus changes a language.</p>
<p>If you were writing a new language, however, I&#39;d find this disussion=
 and its outcome fascinating.</p>
<div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Nov 12, 2012 6:37 AM, &quot;marcandre (Marc-A=
ndre Lafortune)&quot; &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:ruby-core@marc-andre.ca">ruby-c=
ore@marc-andre.ca</a>&gt; wrote:<br type=3D"attribution"><blockquote class=
=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padd=
ing-left:1ex">
<br>
Issue #7328 has been updated by marcandre (Marc-Andre Lafortune).<br>
<br>
<br>
Hi,<br>
<br>
trans (Thomas Sawyer) wrote:<br>
&gt; &quot;Thomas: Please check your facts, e.g. <a href=3D"http://en.wikip=
edia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations#Exceptions_to_the_standard" target=3D"_bl=
ank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_operations#Exceptions_to_the_sta=
ndard</a>&quot;<br>

&gt;<br>
&gt; 1) I did not make this issue.<br>
<br>
My understanding is that the original poster was wondering why the preceden=
ce was like that and that he would have preferred it the other way. Alexey =
answered correctly that the reason was because of the order or operations i=
n mathematics.<br>

<br>
I only wanted to suggest that before contradicting someone it was a good id=
ea to check the facts, in particular if one isn&#39;t extremely familiar wi=
th the field. I didn&#39;t mean to offend and I&#39;m sorry if I did.<br>

<br>
----------------------------------------<br>
Feature #7328: Move ** operator precedence under unary + and -<br>
<a href=3D"https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/7328#change-32791" target=3D"_=
blank">https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/7328#change-32791</a><br>
<br>
Author: boris_stitnicky (Boris Stitnicky)<br>
Status: Rejected<br>
Priority: Normal<br>
Assignee:<br>
Category:<br>
Target version:<br>
<br>
<br>
I would like to ask to consider decreasing ** operator precedence just belo=
w that of -/+ unary operators. I know that other languages (eg. Python) hav=
e ** operator bind tighter than negation, but seeing -1 ** 0.5 give the res=
ult -1 and having to type parenthesis (-1) ** 0.5... Even if it&#39;s not w=
orth changing, I&#39;d like to hear this rationalized. I&#39;ve asked about=
 rationalization of this on SO, and nobody seems to know why this precedenc=
e is the way it is.<br>

<br>
<br>
--<br>
<a href=3D"http://bugs.ruby-lang.org/" target=3D"_blank">http://bugs.ruby-l=
ang.org/</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>

--047d7b338dd3ede1b904ce3f0112--