Temperature Conversion

[Han]

(01-29-2014 07:01 PM)jgreenb2 Wrote:  By that reasoning the following expression should always require parenthesis:

5+3/4

As we all learned as children, however, there exists a convention for operator precedence that resolves the apparent ambiguity:

5+3/4 = 5 + (3/4)

Your example is incorrect. There is no ambiguity in your example because division has higher precedence than addition. On the other hand, if you actually meant to add 5 and 3 first, you would need to use ()'s to specify that: (5+3)/4.

Quote:There is no need for "magic" or "mind-reading" or any of the other pejoratives that are being injected into this conversation.

I did not mean anything demeaning or offensive by "the calculator cannot read your mind"; I am sorry if it came off that way. My point was there is no algorithm that will choose the correct interpretation for all users.

Quote:Nonetheless, the original post wasn't about adding or subtracting temperatures. It was just noting that an apparently sensible expression like:

−13_°F▶_°C

gives an unexpected result. It seems quite clear that this is an operator precedence issue that could be easily resolved.

Somehow this part was not quoted when I responded. I see your point (and agree).