And lo on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:16:07 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did  
spake, saying:

>>> Haskell is a small, simple, logical language. C++ is a huge, messy,  
>>> complex language. I don't see how learning an easy language should  
>>> enable me to learn a hard language.
>>  Heh, Haskell looks complicated and hard to learn to me.
>
> Well, I guess there are probably people who look at something like
>
>    x = (-b +- Sqrt(b^2 - 4ac)/2a
>
> and go "OH MY GOD! That looks SO complicated!" But actually, if you know  
> a little algebra, you discover that this contraption is actually quite  
> straight forward.

But look at the knowledge you need for that. We'll assume that the basics  
are covered = + - x ÷ and that you recognise the x, a, b, and c parts of  
the equation. First up we get - how can you start with a - symbol, what am  
I subtracting b from? Next is a ±; okay you hopefully recognise that it's  
a + and a - combined, but how do I add and subtract at the same time? Then  
we get a √ um okay the shape of that gives no clue unless you just know  
it. Then ² which we might know as shorthand for b x b as many times as the  
number. Then we get an 4ac, is that a new character; you know a-z, aa-az,  
etc? You have to know that it's shorthand for 4 x a x c. Then finally you  
get a / or just one big line which you need to recognise as a ÷.

Spell out all the assumed shorthand plus symbols there and you can see why  
it could legitimately be considered complicated.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

Post a reply to this message