Steven D'Aprano wrote:
On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:02:19 -0700, Aahz wrote:
In article <006e795f$0$9711$c3e8...@news.astraweb.com>, Steven D'Aprano
<st...@remove-this-cybersource.com.au> wrote:
On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:32:10 +0200, Jean-Michel Pichavant wrote:
kj wrote:
sense = cmp(func(hi), func(lo))
assert sense != 0, "func is not strictly monotonic in [lo, hi]"
As already said before, unlike other languages, sense in english does
**not** mean direction. You should rewrite this part using a better
name. Wrong informations are far worse than no information at all.
Absolutely.
From Webster's Dictionary:
8. (Geom.) One of two opposite directions in which a line,
surface, or volume, may be supposed to be described by the motion
of a point, line, or surface.
[1913 Webster]
And from WordNet:
2: the meaning of a word or expression; the way in which a word
or expression or situation can be interpreted
Both meanings are relevant to the way KJ is using the word. Please take
your own advice and stop giving wrong information. As a native English
speaker, I had no difficulty understanding the meaning of "sense" in the
sense intended by KJ.
As another native English speaker, I agree with Jean-Michel; this is the
first time I've seen "sense" used to mean direction.
Just goes to show you learn something new all the time.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sense
7: one of two opposite directions especially of motion (as
of a point, line, or surface)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sense
18. Mathematics. one of two opposite directions in which
a vector may point.
Paraphrasing the Collins Dictionary of Mathematics:
The sense of a vector is the sign of the measure, contrasted with the
magnitude. Thus the vectors AB and BA have the same direction but
opposite sense. Sense is also used to distinguish clockwise and anti-
clockwise.
Sense is, if you like, a "signed direction". "Towards north" (say) as
opposed to "along the north-south axis".
This also illustrates the importance of knowing your target audience. I
have also not seen "sense" used this way before, and from the placement
in the dictionaries I would venture to say it's not common usage outside
of mathematics and the sciences.
Of course, since kj is teaching biologists, odds are decent they know
what he's talking about.
~Ethan~
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