Steve's Programming Challenge: Weights and Measures

[TerryRitchie]

Well hell Steve, your example of 1/3rd in decimal made the light bulb finally go off in my head concerning this issue. It was as simple as relating the issue to a decimal equivalent. Heck, it's so simple now. You missed your calling as a teacher methinks.

I've always loved when that light bulb tics for people; you can just see it on their face, and it usually brightens up a room.  I've never been a *paid* teacher, but I've always tried to share and teach all I can freely.  

And, to be honest, I'm grateful I didn't become a teacher.  Back ages ago, I had an invite to work at Virginia Tech as a teacher for QBASIC/VISUAL BASIC.  Was "..." <-- THAT close to taking the job.

Had I taken it, I would've been right there, center stage, in Norris Hall as https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_shooting <-- THAT went down.

So I *love* to teach.  I just thank God I never actually became a teacher.  I was ".." close to that dark day!

Yikes.

[SMcNeill]

And, since it's not right to issue a challenge without also filling it, I'd like to share this solution, which highlights the problem perfectly:

Code: (Select All)

Color 15

_Define A-Z As _FLOAT

Dim TargetWeight(1 To 4), TargetWeight$(1 To 4), I, CompareWeight, Fraction

TargetWeight(1) = 3: TargetWeight$(1) = "3"

TargetWeight(2) = 3 / 8: TargetWeight$(2) = "3 / 8"

TargetWeight(3) = 11 / 32: TargetWeight$(3) = "11 / 32"

TargetWeight(4) = 1 / 10: TargetWeight$(4) = "1 / 10"







For I = 1 To 4

    CompareWeight = 4: Fraction = 1

    Print TargetWeight$(I); " =";

    Do

        If CompareWeight < 1 Then Fraction = Fraction * 2

        If CompareWeight <= TargetWeight(I) Then

            TargetWeight(I) = TargetWeight(I) - CompareWeight

            If Fraction <= 1 Then

                Print "  + "; CompareWeight;

            Else

                Print " + ( 1 /"; Fraction; ")";

            End If

        End If

        CompareWeight = CompareWeight / 2

    Loop Until TargetWeight(I) = 0 Or CompareWeight < 0.0000000000001##

    If TargetWeight(I) > 0 Then

        Color 4

        Print ; " + "; TargetWeight(I); "OFF"

    End If

    Color 15

    Print: Print

Next

Note that I've deliberately set this up to go to a much lower level of precision than just the 1/256 weights which I asked for with the first post. This is to show that even if we keep going deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, some rabbits just aren't at home to catch to begin with!!

[SpriggsySpriggs]

As a prudent merchant, I shall purchase a gram scale. Good day.

I know it's ancient times. I simply don't care. I've got a gram scale.

[Pete]

Fine, as long as you don't intend to pay for it with 1/10th pound of gold!

Pete

- Always on the lookout for the gram scheme of things.