Re: Static typing (Was Re: Better support for garbage collection)

["AG" <ang@xtra.co.nz>]

"David Starner" <dvdeug@x8b4e53cd.dhcp.okstate.edu> wrote in message
news:99ujqs$aai1@news.cis.okstate.edu...
<<<snip>>>
> I think it's a little flaky to depend on dictionary definitions.
But we do have to depend on *some* definitions, otherwise it's a bit hard to
talk:)
<<<snip>>>
> >Not according to the dictionary definition of "integer".
>
> 1.0 is either zero or an integer (in this case 0) plus or minus one.
Sorry, what? Either zero or an integer? So by what definition is zero no
longer considered an integer?
And is plus or minus one an integer or an entity on it's own?
> So by the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, it is an integer.
Or maybe a zero?
<<<snip>>>
>Again,
> I don't see how the dictionary says that 1.0 is not an integer, and
> even if your's does, I don't see why that's definitive.
Well, because the normal convention in writing values like that is that the
actual value
is within 1/2 (or 0.5 or "one half" or whatever) of the last digit quoted.
So, 1.0 means
anything betwen 0.95 and 1.05 which is hardly an integer number by any
definition.
Of course it's not exactly a floating point either but at least it says
something about
the expected precision/error etc whereas just 1 is much more likely to be
(and be
construed as) an integer.