From: Mike Stok <mike@...>
Date: 2006-03-25T01:42:59+09:00
Subject: Re: Benefit of multiple addition/subtraction operators


On 24-Mar-06, at 11:32 AM, ara.t.howard@noaa.gov wrote:

> On Sat, 25 Mar 2006, Nate Smith wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> What is the benefit in ruby of allowing the following syntax:
>>
>> in irb:
>>
>> irb(main):005:0> 1 + + + + 3
>> => 4
>
>
> you are just saying
>
>   1 + (+(+(+3)))
>
>
> in otherwords you have made 3 __very__ positive.  [...]

But be aware that ----4 doesn't make 4 very negative.

The unary + and - are useful, making

   x = -5

a little more conventional looking and convenient to write than

   x = 0 - 5

Mike

-- 

Mike Stok <mike@stok.ca>
http://www.stok.ca/~mike/

The "`Stok' disclaimers" apply.