[REBOL] Re: percent! - new datatype request
From: jason:cunliffe:verizon at: 7-Jun-2002 1:16
> Yeah, look - we're arguing already. :)
lol
Asking not arguing.. anyway my email was slow getting posted to the list
> But, I remember, to be consistent, shouldn't
> the second datatype be converted to the first
> before the operation takes place ?
> So,
> 100 - 50% == 50 ; as first stated
I am strongly reminded of my early schooldays when our Math teacher relentelssly
brainwashed [initialized] us about percentages for whole term: "Always ask:
'percent of WHAT?'", he said.
And he was right.. I can never listen to the news or advertising or marketing
wonks wihout thinking of that man.. In which case the assumptions must be
clearly stated:
>> 100 - 50%
== 50
That says that the percent is OF the preceding value.
So what does this next one mean?
>> 50% + 100 ???
...If is truly REBOListic then % will have some suprising head tail first next
behaviors..
Meanwhile some other to ponder
>> (100 - 50%) * 10%
== 5
>> 100 * 50%
== 5000%
>> 50% * 100
== ??
> I suppose
> 50% - 100 == -50% ; ? or should be illegal?
No its an Enron hysteresis function. Negative growth.. The policicians love to
ovecome it.
..unless 50% already has some internal series value it is indexing ??
> > >> taxrate: to-percent [$8.25 / $100]
> > == 8.25%
> Uh oh, so to-percent involves an implicit multiplication
> by 100, then? Looks nice, though.
yeah aint it?
./Jason
