Xref: utzoo comp.lang.c:6502 sci.math:2695 Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihlpf!nevin1 From: nevin1@ihlpf.ATT.COM (00704A-Liber) Newsgroups: comp.lang.c,sci.math Subject: Re: 0 as a magic number Message-ID: <3475@ihlpf.ATT.COM> Date: 22 Jan 88 01:49:27 GMT References: <39.bagpiper@oxy.UUCP> <5080015@hpfcdc.HP.COM> Reply-To: nevin1@ihlpf.UUCP (00704A-Liber,N.) Followup-To: sci.math Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois Lines: 17 [follow this up to sci.math. It never really belonged in comp.lang.c.] In article <5080015@hpfcdc.HP.COM> boemker@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Tim Boemker) writes: .Zero does symmetrically divide the number line. Symmetry does not necessarily .mean that the number line is divided into two pieces of equal length. In this .case, it can mean that -x and +x are equally distant from 0. (By the way, I .am not promoting the use of zero as a magic number.) All numbers symmetrically divide the number line. That is what translation of coordinates is all about. If n is the number dividing the number line, then the line is divided symetrically about n. -- _ __ NEVIN J. LIBER ..!ihnp4!ihlpf!nevin1 (312) 510-6194 ' ) ) "The secret compartment of my ring I fill / / _ , __o ____ with an Underdog super-energy pill." / (_