What about the square root function?  It has two solutions, but only returns
one.  The assumption is that only the positive solution is germane.  There are
(of course) many pedestrian functions that return more than one solution.
    A case can be made for setting division by zero to "infinite"- not a number,
but a state.  Graph it and it is clear.  But we assume that this is not what we
are after and return an error.  In a similar manner, we assume that even powered
roots are positive unless there is some other indication involved.

Cheers!

Chip Shults
My robotics, space and CGI web page - http://home.cfl.rr.com/aichip

Post a reply to this message