Re: [Axiom-mail] Why no mod function?

[Bill Page]

On 7/9/07, Alasdair McAndrew wrote:
> Why is there no modulus function in Axiom?  Such as
>
> -13 mod 10 producing 7.
>
> There's rem, but if you want a positive value you have to tweak the result.

I guess you are looking for a function of the following type?

 mod: (Integer, PositiveInteger) -> Integer

> I can get x mod n with (x::ZMOD n)::INT but that's a bit of a kludge,

To the best of my knowledge that is how one might be expected to write
it in the Axiom interpreter. This emphasizes the notion of ZMOD(n) as
a type

(12) -> mod(i,n) == i::ZMOD(n)::Integer
                                                        Type: Void
(13) -> mod(-13,10)
  Cannot compile conversion for types involving local variables. In
     particular, could not compile the expression involving :: ZMOD #2

  AXIOM will attempt to step through and interpret the code.

  (13)  7
                                           Type: PositiveInteger

The problem here is that ZMOD(n) is not a type *constant*. This is ok
in the Axiom interpreter but not in the Spad or Aldor compilers.

> and if I put it in a program the compiler doesn't like it.

I would suggest that in Spad you should programming something like

(24) -> mod(i,n) == (i>0 => i rem n; n + (i rem n))
  Compiled code for mod has been cleared.
  1 old definition(s) deleted for function or rule mod
                                                         Type: Void
(25) -> mod(-13,10)
  Compiling function mod with type
      (Integer,PositiveInteger) -> Integer

  (25)  7
                                           Type: PositiveInteger

If you need help with this just let me know.

Regards,
Bill Page.