[boost] Re: Dimensional Analysis Interest?

From: David Abrahams (dave_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-10-15 12:57:17

David Richardson wrote:

> Deane Yang wrote:
> 
>> c) Automatic generation of new types when two different quantities
>> are multiplied or divided
> 
> 
> I'm a bit confused how this would work (maybe because I've been thinking 
> about this as a physics problem).  Do we just pick an arbtrary rule for 
> the production of new types/units?

No, mathematics gives the rules.  You can see examples in my slides at 
http://www.boost-consulting.com/writing/ACCU_MPL_slides.ppt

> Then the users have to know that rule, or they might accidentaly specify 
> a unit that corresponds to the multiplication of two other units without 
> knowing (or intending) to do it.

The whole point of dimensional analysis in C++ is to statically check 
these things.