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Re: Motion: Number format (Motion 33?)



On 2012-04-14 05:25:47 -0700, Dmitry Nadezhin wrote:
> If we require these properties from numeric types, should not we
> formulate similar requirements to interval datatype.

I think so.

[...]
> Shouldn't we make this definition stricter and require from T properties similar to requirements
> to "P1788 number format":
> 1) Datatype T must be symmetric - in interval x is in T then -x is in T (as A4).

Perhaps (and require the -x operation to be exact).

> 2) Interval [0,0] mut be in T (as A3)

I'm not sure. Are there operations that would return this interval
explicitly? If neg() is not in the standard, [0,0] must be in T so
that the user can write [0,0] - x to get something equivalent to -x.

> 3) For any bounded notempty interval [u,v] in T exists singleton interval [x,x] in T
>   such that x \in [u,v]

Can anyone think of a format for which this wouldn't be true?

To avoid some surprises, perhaps the following could be added:
the hull of a symmetric interval must be symmetric.

> If we accept these requirements on P1788 interval datatypes,
> then for each interval datatype T we can build canonic number format
> that consists of all singletons [x,x] in T and
> of special datum -oo, +oo, NaN .
> It is still necessary to choose rounding function.
> 
> Aren't these additional requirements (1)-(3) on interval datatypes too much ?

Perhaps (3), except if the goal is to have a canonic number format.

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Vincent Lefèvre <vincent@xxxxxxxxxx> - Web: <http://www.vinc17.net/>
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