Re: Dumb programming question..

> 
> So the foreign comments he's thinking about were probably along the lines 
> of "stupid Americans, can't even handle basic/remedial algebra."
> 

That is also the way I took it. And yes, I'm also dismayed at the apparent 
perception that simplifying that expression requires more than basic 
algebra.

OTOH, I also concur that from a maintenance standpoint it is better to just 
use the original expression which more closely resembles the algorithm 
stated by the users. Unless this is inside a tight loop with a very high 
iteration count, the effeciency gained does not justify the potential for 
time wasted in the future if somebody doesn't quickly comprehend they both 
equate to the same thing.

And even if it is done for each record in a large file, I suspect the 
database time overshadows the time difference between the equations, 
particularly if any compiler optimizations are allowed. I'm reminded of the 
phrase Barbara Morris once used regarding optimizing the wrong aspects of a 
program: "It is like standing on a chair to get closer to the moon."

Love that saying.

Doug