Re: [ ruby-Bugs-7001 ] Determinant Problem in Matrix.rb

Nex3 wrote:
> Given that the typical way of calculating determinants involves no
> division at all, it seems odd that I would be required to use floats
> to get the correct result. In addition, the documentation of the
> Matrix class doesn't say that one should use floats... in fact, the
> example given for Matrix#determinant is done with integers.

Sorry not defining determinants in a typical way.  It does divide.

> That said, when looking at the documentation, I noticed that it said
> that "mathn" must be required in order for determinants to work
> properly. And this does work properly (with integers) after requiring
> mathn. Although it is rather unintuitive to do so.

Like many other computer languages, Ruby's Integer instances do not
behave as mathematical integers do.  Whenever you want to do a
mathematical computation you (1) use Float instead, (2) require 'mathn',
or (3) learn how Integer behaves.