[Haskell-cafe] Re: Why purely in haskell?

[jerzy.karczmarczuk at info.unicaen.fr]

Ben Franksen writes: 

> jerzy.karczmarczuk at info.unicaen.fr wrote:
...
>> Does *MATH* answer the question what is: (0/0)==(0/0) ? Nope!
> 
> Exactly. So why try to give an answer in Haskell? MATH says: the 
> expression 0/0 is undefined, thus comparing (0/0)==(0/0) is undefined, 
> too. I would expect Haskell to say the same.

I don't know whether you are serious, or you are pulling my leg...
Let's suppose that it is serious. 

When math says that something is undefined, in my little brain I understand
that there is no answer.
NO answer. 

Is this the "undefined" you want to have? The bottom non-termination? Now,
this is obviously the *worst* possible reaction of the system, the IEEE
indefinite is much better, at least you know what had happened. 

Would you propose the non-termination as the issue of all "errors", such as
negative argument to the real sqrt, etc?
Well, as you wish... But don't write medical software, please... 


Jerzy Karczmarczuk