Subj : Re: Reversing a number
To   : comp.programming
From : Willem
Date : Tue Sep 13 2005 10:11 pm

Gerry wrote:
) Essentially, that IS the problem specification.  It is, after all, the 
) simplest interpretation of the mathematical operation of 'reversing a 
) number', that is to say, determining an number that can be represented 
) in base-10 as the string of digits that is the reverse of the string 
) representing the original number.
)
) How would you explain in detail the problem, without reference to 
) strings?

Why would I *want* to explain the problem without reference to strings ?
That the prolem definition needs strings to be able to explain the
requirements does *not* imply that the solution necessarily involves
strings.

The problem definition is simply to take a number and return the result
of reversing that number in base-10 notation.

If you want to argue that 'base-10 notation' involves strings, go right
ahead, I won't argue with that.

But the solution (iteratively multiplying the output by ten, dividing
 the input by ten and adding the remainder to the output until the input
 becomes zero) does not involve strings directly.  It inputs a number and
outputs a number.  No strings.  Unless you wish to claim that a number is
secretly a string, of course.


SaSW, Willem
-- 
Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for any of the statements
            made in the above text. For all I know I might be
            drugged or something..
            No I'm not paranoid. You all think I'm paranoid, don't you !
#EOT

.