i've been sitting here for 2 hours searching through info sites
and forums getting absolutely nothing out of it. its a simple
problem i have. how to add fractions in c:
where a/b + c/d == x/y
can someone point me in the right direction? :)
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i've been sitting here for 2 hours searching through info sites
and forums getting absolutely nothing out of it. its a simple
problem i have. how to add fractions in c:
where a/b + c/d == x/y
can someone point me in the right direction? :)
You treat fractions as ordered pairs of integers, and reduce them to lowest terms if they aren't already, using the Euclidean algorithm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euclidean_algorithm
to compute the GCD of the numerator and denominator and then divide both by it. In the case of adding fractions, use the formula
a/b + c/d == (ad + bc)/bd
followed by reduction to lowest terms as described above.
You better try again: That formula does not work for the following two fractions of adding 1/3 and 1/5. According to the formula above, this would be equivalent to 3/5, whereas the real answer is 8/15. Or is my arithmetic that bad??
Yes, your arithmetic is bad :) (1 * 5 + 1 * 3)/(3 * 5) == 8 / 15
If you tried it programmatically then a / b * c != a / (b * c) although the parenthesis should not be required by human conventions (multiplication has higher precedence in algebraic notation?)
mea culpa!!