On 9/20/07, Xavier Noria <fxn / hashref.com> wrote:
> On Sep 20, 2007, at 5:39 PM, Rick DeNatale wrote:
>
> > On 9/20/07, Xavier Noria <fxn / hashref.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On the other hand note that the definition of Range does not imply
> >> the collection is finite, given suitables #<=> and #succ a range can
> >> represent an enumeration of the rationals in [0, 1].
> >
> > True in theory, but, I wonder just how you would code succ so as to
> > return the NEXT rational!?
>
> Of course that won't happen in practice, but since we were
> speculating about a possible definition of length for ranges I
> thought that comment was needed for the reply to be complete.
>
> The non-constructive argument goes like this (you say it is true so I
> guess you already know this):
>
> Let f be a bijection between the rationals in the open interval (0,
> 1) and N. Such a bijection exists because Q is numerable. For any f
> (n) = q define q.succ to be f(n+1). For any given f(n) = q, f(m) = p
> in (0, 1) define q <=> p iff n <=> m.
>
> I have seen explicit bijections between Q and N, I guess a
> programmable .succ could be given.
>
> To complete the reasoning about the closed interval [0, 1], define 0
> <=> q and q <=> 1 to be -1 for any q in (0, 1), and define 0.succ to
> be f(0). 1.succ can be any arbitrary value, when you compute the
> length iterating over a collection max.succ is not used anyway.
>
> I've written that off the top of my head but I think it is correct.

You lost me, so what's the rational which is the successor to 1/3?

-- 
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby
http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/