[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Rational[a,b] vs Rational[1,2]

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg116618] Rational[a,b] vs Rational[1,2]
• From: Richard Fateman <fateman at eecs.berkeley.edu>
• Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:30:54 -0500 (EST)

I find it potentially hazardous that Head[]
does not distinguish the cases of Head[1/2]

and Head[Rational[a,b]]

Thus these both get transformed...

1/2  /. Rational[r_,s_]-> foo[r,s]

Rational[a,b] /. Rational[r_,s_] -> foo[r,s]


but compare ...

1/2  /. 2->4

Rational[a,2] /. 2->4

I'm not saying I'm surprised by this, of course.

Perhaps Rational[a,b] should be converted to a/b unless both
a and b are numbers.

Oh, for some fun, try Rational[1/2,4].


RJF

PS, I used version 7.