Talk:ABC problem: Difference between revisions

Line 33:
 
:: An empty string is a word without letters, which is not the same as "not giving you a word". If you are going to choose arbitrarily between two interpretations anyway, choose the one that's simpler. We want to use a subset of the blocks to spell out a word, using an empty subset (i.e. no blocks) is the way to spell a word with no letters, so "true" is a more natural answer. What you want is better expressed as "using a ''nonempty'' set of blocks to spell a word", which is different and more (and unnecessarily) restrictive. Choosing "true" or "false" are not equally valid if you define the task clearly. --[[User:Ledrug|Ledrug]] ([[User talk:Ledrug|talk]]) 20:49, 9 January 2014 (UTC)
:::I'm aware of the case for "true" and had considered it before choosing "false" for a moment. It was simply the first test case I wrote. I chose "false" and moved on and haven't given it this much thought (though I think I might've wondered what is a word with no letters?). I honestly don't see either choice being essential to the spirit of the task and would happily accept "true" if that makes more sense to more people.--[[User:Jking|Jking]] ([[User talk:Jking|talk]]) 21:14, 9 January 2014 (UTC)
 
==Not a set of blocks==
17

edits