On Sun, Sep 28, 2003 at 03:21:46PM -0400, Alfie Costa wrote: > > > The correct meaning can be deduced, but it's awful prose. > > > It is standard math. > > The constitution is in prose, and because prose is different from math, > its norms and standards are different. Sometimes very different. Which is why we discuss numbers using mathematical terminology, as is standard for technical prose. > > How is "integer" too general? [since it's a synonym for whole number] > > Integer has more than one meaning Only if you're an idiot. Integer has precisely one meaning, and it is a synonym of "whole number". The set of integers is the union of the set of natural numbers and the set composed by subtracting every natural number from zero. > "Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)" > Integer In"te*ger, n. L. integer untouched, whole, entire. > See Entire. > A complete entity; a whole number, in contradistinction to a > fraction or a mixed number. That one is correct, although "mixed number" has falled into disuse. > "WordNet (r) 2.0" > integer > n : any of the natural numbers (positive or negative) or zero > syn: whole number That one's completely wrong. There are no negative naturals, and zero is natural. Their definition of "natural number" is also wrong, because it fails to include zero (foldoc gets this right). For technical matters, do not trust wordnet. It's not particularly accurate. > Note that the Webster's that doesn't include negatives was the public > domain 1913 edition. The word's usage has changed. web1913's description quite clearly includes negative numbers. The usage has not changed. wordnet is actually the one that says negative whole numbers are not integers, but that's only because the definition has a bug. (The set of negative natural numbers is empty, by definition) *You* suggested "whole number" as being a suitable term to use. "integer" is a synonym of "whole number", so either: a) you think "integer" is appropriate or: b) you are wasting our time -- .''`. ** Debian GNU/Linux ** | Andrew Suffield : :' : http://www.debian.org/ | `. `' | `- -><- |
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