From: Rob Biedenharn <Rob@...>
Date: 2009-03-20T06:42:19+09:00
Subject: Re: Modulo ?

On Mar 19, 2009, at 5:07 PM, Michael Malone wrote:

> Sebastian Hungerecker wrote:
>> Michael Malone wrote:
>>
>>> Though there is one thing I would like to point out: 0 % 7 = 0
>>> So 'remainder' is not strictly true
>>>
>>
>> Sorry I don't follow you. What's the remainder of 0/7 if not 0?
>> 0-7*0 is 0, is it not?
>>
>> Confused,
>> Sebastian
>>
>>
> Many people I know and work with simplify the modulo operator to  
> themselves as remainder, so mentally (whether or not it is correct)  
> assume 0/7 = 0 r 7
> I am just making an explicit example of this not necessarily obvious  
> case.  It's totally fine when one knows the semantics of modulo,  
> it's the simplification to remainder that many people make that  
> causes problems here.
>
> Michael


[I hope this survives email formatting...]

        __0_r_0_
      7 ) 0
0*7 =>  -0
         ==
          0

Just because people can't understand division and remainders isn't  
enough to keep them away from technical discussions. The original  
response (which I deleted months ago [or was that yesterday?]) had an  
accurate definition.

-Rob

Rob Biedenharn		http://agileconsultingllc.com
Rob@AgileConsultingLLC.com