Re: About the variable 'I' (was Re: long names (was Readability of Ada))

Article View: comp.lang.misc

Article #3693

#3693

From: Richard Harter
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1991 04:25

19 lines
1544 bytes

In article <1991Apr26.034205.27308@netcom.COM>, mrs@netcom.COM (Morgan Schweers) writes:
> Greetings,
>     Can someone confirm (preferably in a post, so my MBX doesn't flood)
> the truth/falsity of FORTRAN being the starter of 'I' as a generic loop
> variable?

FALSE, er, make that false, no 0, no, well anyway, you know what I mean.

It's mathematical usage and has been for ages and ages.  Letters i,j,k
for indices in summation and product formulas, and m and n for ranges.
Back in the olden days when computers were used for computing (instead
of running microwave ovens and serving as crosses between TV's and
typewriters) they were programmed by mathematicians and engineers.
They set a trend that has been enshrined in universal habit.
-- 
Richard Harter, Software Maintenance and Development Systems, Inc.
Net address: jjmhome!smds!rh Phone: 508-369-7398 
US Mail: SMDS Inc., PO Box 555, Concord MA 01742
This sentence no verb.  This sentence short.  This signature done.

Technical Details

Message-ID: <425@smds.UUCP>

Path:

arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!bu.edu!m2c!jjmhome!smds!rh

References: <3878@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> <jls.672366979@rutabaga> <1991Apr26.034205.27308@netcom.COM>

Show Full Headers

Complete Article Headers

Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!bu.edu!m2c!jjmhome!smds!rh
From: rh@smds.UUCP (Richard Harter)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: About the variable 'I' (was Re: long names (was Readability of Ada))
Summary: Hundreds of years of precedent
Message-ID: <425@smds.UUCP>
Date: 29 Apr 91 04:25:10 GMT
References: <3878@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> <jls.672366979@rutabaga> <1991Apr26.034205.27308@netcom.COM>
Organization: SMDS Inc., Concord, MA
Lines: 19

Reply to Parent Message