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From: koenig@urz.unibas.ch
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: c++ and complex numbers
Message-ID: <1991May21.090932.1571@urz.unibas.ch>
Date: 21 May 91 08:09:32 GMT
References: <480@al.wfw.wtb.tue.nl>
Organization: University of Basel, Switzerland
Lines: 24

In article <480@al.wfw.wtb.tue.nl>, reuder@lso.win.tue.nl (Peter Reuderink) writes:
> Although it is possible to define new types or records in Pascal,
> one is always confronted with problems when trying to write complex
> functions is Pascal since the output of a function can never be
> two values, i.e. real and imaginary. Therefore one is forced to
> use subroutines for even the most simple problems, making your
> code unreadable, and time-consuming.
> 
> However, can someone tell me if it can be done in c++?? Or are there
> any other languages able to deal with complex numbers.

The main requirement for convenient use of complex numbers is the general
operator concept. Some existing programming languages offer this feature:
ADA, Pascal-SC, Fortan-SC, Modula-SC. "SC" indicates that these languages
are extensions for Scientific Computation. Complex numbers may be handled
as in C++ like built-in types.

If you like, see
	G. Bohlender et al., Pascal-SC: A Computer Language for Scientific
	Computation. Perspektives in computing, 17, 1987. Academic Press,
	Orlando.
       
Bye,     Stefan Koenig