- From: Aryeh Gregor <Simetrical+w3c@gmail.com>
- Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:11:58 -0400
On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 9:16 AM, Elliotte Rusty Harold<elharo at ibiblio.org> wrote: > A function is not an operator. According to Wikipedia, "In > mathematics, an operator is a function which operates on (or modifies) > another function." A comparison is an operation on strings (data), not > on other functions. In mathematics, "operator" is often defined to be a function from a set (or some finite Cartesian product of the set with itself) to the same set. Or, really, it can be used to just mean an arbitrary function, like "linear operator" meaning the same as "linear map"/"linear transformation". The Wikipedia article contradicts itself. In the lede, it has the quote you cite, but later it says: "The word operator can in principle be applied to any function. However, in practice it is most often applied to functions which operate on mathematical entities of higher complexity than real numbers, such as vectors, random variables, or mathematical expressions." The second statement is correct. I've corrected the first. Of course, in mathematical parlance, operators do have to be functions, and comparisons usually aren't viewed as functions in mathematics. They're viewed as orderings, a different type of relation. But you could always view an arbitrary relation as a function with range {0, 1}, and in computing, "comparison operator" is common. I do agree that "comparison operator" sounds a little weird in this context. I can't really put my finger on why, though, or think of a better term. I think it's harmless, anyway, and not worth wasting much time on given the amount of real work to be done.
Received on Saturday, 15 August 2009 19:11:58 UTC