Absolutely. I'm surprised gull thinks otherwise.

Isn't something like:

t = -t;

legal in just about all languages? It prob. compiles the same as -1*t; I don't see the advantage of adding the extra character.

Perhaps it's a difference in how maths is taught in USA vs UK? (Or I'm weird lol )

I remember a lot of emphasis from primary school teachers saying "1 times X is always going to be X". -1*x is really clear to me because of that.

lol... this thread is like listening to people argue whether its better to be kicked in the face or to be kicked in the groin...

could one of the advocates for "x = -1*x" and/or "x = 0-x" please explain why you wouldnt just write "x = -x"?

anyone know the rules of thumb or w/e for mixing and matching laptop chargers to a laptop? the tip of my charger is worn out and i have to position it just right to get a connection and i want to try some of the other chargers i have laying around.

edit: just burnt my finger on the tip of my charger... probably not good for it to be that hot?

IANAEE but just try to find one with the same amperage on the transformers.

edit: I'm with jason...I'm a bit mystified why anyone would use anything other than -x

Same here. I assume its the SSD but I've never before experienced such a huge improvement in usability when upgrading computers.

Eclipse actually works like a non-bloated standard piece of software.

I don't blame this error. Excel is such a cluster* that you automatically assume everything is the hard way, except copy/paste cell functions.

On the company website note:



I'm just too embarrassed for my company to even talk about it.

But, I am actually...



Because I am not involved anymore. So, marketing doesn't get the egg in his face for this one. Unfortunately, I'll get the whole blame because everyone will assume marketing created the whole disaster.

I want to add facebook integration to an app with ios5/arc (share recipes). I understand that neither the facebook api nor sharekit are immediately compatible with arc. Which would be easier to implement this for?

Yeah thats my question too.. I thought maybe Id just gon mad for thinking that, glad to see its no just me

Excel is a great software IMO. people abuse the hell out of it by trying to use it as a hammer but it's an invaluable tool. It's macro system is also a great gateway drug to learning a more general purpose programming language.

quick question guys...dont really know where else should I ask

1)is XML useful for a nonprogrammer? It would be the only coding language I somewhat knew (thinking about signing up for a class).
2)is proficiency in Reuters app for finance useful for finance only? Or would it be useful or around?

Im gonna be looking for a job/internship next Spring and Im looking to boost up technology part of my cv. Ideal position is smth like (Junior) Research analyst in Mckinsey, but I will be looking all around, I know that getting that job is hard. Major: econ

thanks

yeah me too. 0-foo is less clear. but w/e seems like nitpicking

I'm shocked that anything but unary negation would be used to negate a variable.

eh.. I often multiply by -1 because I think it's more explicit. It's fairly easy for me to see a = -b and read a = b--especially when I'm debugging and therefore confused and tearing my hair out.

I hope you're not using a proportional font!

I probably would be dumb enough to do that, but luckily I tend to program in IDEs that were made by people smarter than I am.

xml is not a "coding language". prove me wrong by writing a program in xml that does something. what do you think you "somewhat know" about it?

what do you mean by "useful"? i don't think xml is going to help you get a job in any field, but especially not finance/econ.

i've never heard of this so i'll say no.

good luck!

gull,

i was making a joke. wasn't trying to be harsh.

my interview comment was because your answer demonstrated a weak understanding of how compilers/processors/assembler work. i do think -1*x is clearer than 0-x (and it appears i am in the majority on this) but i agree that an interview that relies on this distinction is poorly conceived.

much better to ask how many ping-pong balls fit in a 747 .

Lol, I know youre supposed to stay calm and show analytical skills for this, but Im always just like "sighhhh"

Oh ok sorry for misinterpreting

Perhaps I phrased wrong, and granted I'm just a hobbyist when it comes to processors and all that stuff, all I'm trying to say is that processors are so complex now that measuring performance between single lines is a vacuum is largely pointless, in a real world example there's a lot of influencing variables and it would be nearly impossible to determine which method is faster than another for such small instructions.

I guess I'm the odd one out thinking that 0-x is clearest lol, I seem to do a lot of things differently to other people, and the biggest team I've ever worked in is 2 so I can accept that it's probably not the way everyone else does it

Gull, eg, saying differently to instead of differently from? :P

A math person will probably look rather concerned when he sees either version

x=0-x
or
x=-1*x
or
x=-x

DUCY :P