/ 
Number-Fraction-1.02
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/ Number::Fraction

NAME

Number::Fraction - Perl extension to model fractions

SYNOPSIS

use Number::Fraction;

my $f1 = Number::Fraction->new(1, 2);
my $f2 = Number::Fraction->new('1/2');
my $f3 = Number::Fraction->new($f1); # clone
my $f4 = Number::Fraction->new; # 0/1

or

use Number::Fraction ':constants'

my $f1 = '1/2';

my $one = $f1 + $f2;
my $half = $one - $f1;
print $half; # prints '1/2'

ABSTRACT

Number::Fraction is a Perl module which allows you to work with fractions in your Perl programs.

DESCRIPTION

Number::Fraction allows you to work with fractions (i.e. rational numbers) in your Perl programs in a very natural way.

It was originally written as a demonstration of the techniques of overloading.

If you use the module in your program in the usual way

use Number::Fraction;

you can then create fraction objects using Number::Fraction-new> in a number of ways.

my $f1 = Number::Fraction->new(1, 2);

creates a fraction with a numerator of 1 and a denominator of 2.

my $f2 = Number::Fraction->new('1/2');

does the same thing but from a string constant.

my $f3 = Number::Fraction->new($f1);

makes $f3 a copy of $f1

my $f4 = Number::Fraction->new; # 0/1

creates a fraction with a denominator of 0 and a numerator of 1.

If you use the alterative syntax of

use Number::Fraction ':constants';

then Number::Fraction will automatically create fraction objects from string constants in your program. Any time your program contains a string constant of the form \d+/\d+ then that will be automatically replaced with the equivalent fraction object. For example

my $f1 = '1/2';

Having created fraction objects you can manipulate them using most of the normal mathematical operations.

my $one = $f1 + $f2;
my $half = $one - $f1;

Additionally, whenever a fraction object is evaluated in a string context, it will return a string in the format x/y. When a fraction object is evaluated in a numerical context, it will return a floating point representation of its value.

Fraction objects will always "normalise" themselves. That is, if you create a fraction of '2/4', it will silently be converted to '1/2'.

EXPORT

None by default.

SEE ALSO

perldoc overload

AUTHOR

Dave Cross, <dave@dave.org.uk>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright 2002 by Dave Cross

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.