Re: Prefix, infix and function-call and their implications in embedded language readability

Peng Yu <pengyu.ut@gmail.com> wrote:
(snip)


> 3+2*5>7
> (> (+ 3 (* 2 5)) 7)
> Greater[Plus[3,Times[2,5]],7]


> Apparently, at least to me, the first expression is the most readable.
> One possible reason is that we learn this algebraic notation much
> earlier than the other two, which is in analogy to that we can respond
> to the native language (say, English) much faster than to a second
> language (say, French).
(snip)


> [I suspect it's like underwear, you like what you're used to, and you can't
> really do meaningful comparisons because everyone already is familiar with
> something. -John]


I remember from many years ago, the discussions on the advantages of
HP's RPN over TI's algebraic entry calculators. TI would claim that
algebraic was closer to the way people write expressions. Others
would claim that RPN is closer to the way we think about mathematical
expressions. If you always write it down before computing then, yes,
algebraic is more readable. Otherwise, when you think about problems
it is more like.


Start with three, then take two and five and multiply them,
then add that to the previous result. Compare seven to the result.


I don't know that anyone thinks in parentheses, but more usually
in terms of what to do to previously calculated results. Around
that time I knew someone with a brand new HP calculator, and I
thought I would be able to teach her about using it. It turns out,
though, that in a few minutes she was able to figure it out without
any help from me.


In the old days, even TI calculators did transcendental functions
in RPM form. I remember the fun of evaluating cos(x)=x by repeated
pressing of the COS button until the result stops changing. Now the
usual TI calculators use the prefix form for COS, making that much
more difficult.


-- glen


    the previous result. Compare seven to the result.


I don't know that anyone thinks in parentheses, but more usually
in terms of what to do to previously calculated results. Around
that time I knew someone with a brand new HP calculator, and I
thought I would be able to teach her about using it. It turns out,
though, that in a few minutes she was able to figure it out without
any help from me.


In the old days, even TI calculators did transcendental functions
in RPM form. I remember the fun of evaluating cos(x)=x by repeated
pressing of the COS button until the result stops changing. Now the
usual TI calculators use the prefix form for COS, making that much
more difficult.


-- glen

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