Re: Numerical Comparison: "required coercions"

[Guy Steele <gls@Think.COM>]

    Date: Thu, 26 Mar 87 11:54:28 PST
    From: fateman@mike.berkeley.edu (Richard Fateman)

    I think that comparing more than 2 operands could simply be 
    forbidden since the semantics is unclear and the utility
    is doubtful.

The convenience is considerable when working with integers in
such expressions as
	(<= 0 J N)
	(< -1 J K (+ N 1))
Admittedly this does not allow similarly concise expression of such common
mathematical idioms as 0 <= j < n where the comparisons differ as to
whether equality is to be included.

I agree that using more than two arguments with floating-point
numbers should perhaps be avoided as a matter of style.
--Guy