Title :
Computing with Impure Numbers: Automatic Consistency Checking and Units Conversion Using Computer Algebra
Author :
Stoutemyer, David R.
Author_Institution :
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Hawaii
Abstract :
This note shows how computer-algebra systems may be used to include symbolic physical units in computer calculations, with automatic detection of dimensionally-inhomogeneous formulas and automatic conversion of inconsistent units in a dimensionally-homogeneous formula. Inhomogeneity errors are a prevalent type that is undetected in traditional programming languages, and the user is relieved of the tedious, error-prone units-conversion process.
Keywords :
Dimensional homogeneity; MACSYMA; programming language design; symbolic algebraic manipulation; units consistency; units conversion; Acceleration; Algebra; Colon; Computer errors; Computer languages; Pattern matching; Physics computing; Proposals; Research and development; Temperature; Dimensional homogeneity; MACSYMA; programming language design; symbolic algebraic manipulation; units consistency; units conversion;
Journal_Title :
Software Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TSE.1977.231178
