RE: [boost] Interval Wrinkles

From: Paul A. Bristow (boost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-04-16 03:54:53

> -----Original Message-----
> From: boost-bounces_at_[hidden]
> [mailto:boost-bounces_at_[hidden]]On Behalf Of Guillaume Melquiond
> Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 1:33 PM
> To: Boost mailing list
> Subject: RE: [boost] Interval Wrinkles
>
> The display of intervals is something we didn't want to do. It's up to the
> user to define its own display. The header interval/io.hpp is merely
> provided as a debug facilities (it isn't included by default).

> Maybe the best solution would be to simply remove interval/io.hpp from the
> library since it seems to induce more problems than it solves. And to add
> a bit of documentation to explain the situation.

I think this is too extreme - it IS useful, if nothing else as a starting point
for ones own versions, but the behaviour may surprise, so I fell this needs some
explanation, even at minimum as comments in code.

> > If one wanted to show singletons explicitly, I presume I could test and only
> > output one central value?
>
> Why not. But as I explained, the answer will not be mathematically
> satisfying since the result will be biased. So it's really up to the user
> to define its own display methods depending on the expected results.

If one is using intervals to hold measurement and computational uncertainty, I
don't feel this matters - though for purer mathemetical applications you are
certainly corrent.

Thanks for all your patient explanations, and for some good solid code.

Pual

Paul A Bristow, Prizet Farmhouse, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8AB  UK
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