Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!decwrl!ucbvax!ucdavis!uop!terryn
From: terryn@uop.EDU (Terry Ng)
Newsgroups: comp.theory
Subject: Hashing help needed
Summary: Need help finding a hashing algorithm to combine measurements.
Keywords: thickness, width, length, code
Message-ID: <2385@uop.uop.edu>
Date: 16 Jul 90 02:25:51 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA [138.9.200.1]
Lines: 20


    I have been trying to figure out a hashing algorithm to combine the
 measurements of a piece of wood.  I have the thickness, width, and length.
 This is all measured in inches and fractions thereof and converted to its
 decimal equivalent.  I need an algorithm to uniquely combines these almost
 infinite measurements into a 4 digit code.  I say almost infinite because
 all measurements will not excede 999.99 (separately).

    I would appreciate any help.  I would also welcome suggestions of any
 kind.  I have been playing around with different schemes of my own but have
 not got anywhere.  If it is not possible to obtain a 4-digit code maybe
 a 5 or more digit code may be used.  I don't want to get to the point of
 just concatinating all of the digits together.  That would defeat the
 purpose of a hash.

 *******************************************************************************
 *                                                                             *
 * Email: terryn@uop.edu                                                       *
 *                                                                             *
 *******************************************************************************