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

  use Number::Fraction ':constants';

  my $f1 = '1/2';
  my $f2 = $f1;

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

or some famous examples from Ovid or the perldoc

  use Number::Fraction ':constants';

  print '0.1' + '0.2' - '0.3';
  # except for perl6, this is the usual suspect 5.55111512312578e-17
  # times the mass of the sun, this would be the size of Mount Everest
  # just a small rounding difference

  my $f1 = Number::Fraction->new(-6.725);
  my $f2 = Number::Fraction->new( 0.025);
  print int $f1/$f2;
  # the correct -269, no internal  -268.99999999999994315658

and as of the latest release with unicode support

  my $f1 = Number::Fraction->new('3½');
  my $f2 = Number::Fraction->new(4.33);

  my $f0 = $f1 * $f2;

  print $f0->to_simple; # 15⅙

and for those who love pie

  print '3.14159265359'->nearest(1 ..   10)->to_unicode_mixed  # 3¹⁄₇

  print '3.14159265359'->nearest(1 .. 1000)->to_unicode_string # ³⁵⁵⁄₁₁₃

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 $fm = Number::Fraction->new(1, 2, 3);

creates a fraction from an integer of 1, a numerator of 2 and a denominator of 3; which results in a fraction of 5/3 since fractions are normalised.

  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'.

Mixed Fractions and Unicode Support

Since version 3.0 the interpretation of strings and constants has been enriched with a few features for mixed fractions and Unicode characters.

Number::Fraction now recognises a more Perlish way of entering mixed fractions which consist of an integer-part and a fraction in the form of "\d+_\d+/\d+". For example

  my $mixed = '2_3/4'; # two and three fourths, stored as 11/4

  my $simple = '2½'; # two and a half, stored as 5/2

Mixed fractions, either in Perl notation or with Unicode fractions can be negative, prepending it with a minus-sign.

  my $negative = '-⅛'; # minus one eighth

Experimental Support for Exponentiation

Version 1.13 of Number::Fraction adds experimental support for exponentiation operations. Version 3 has extended support and returns a Number::Fraction.

It does a lot of cheating, but can give very useful results. And for now will try to make a real number into a Number::Fraction if that real does not have a power of ten component (like 1.234e45, thes numbers will simply fail). Such that

  ('5⅞' ** '1¼') ** '⅘'

will produce still the right fraction!

In a future version, I might use automatic rounding to a optional accuracy, so that it also works for less forced examples as the above. One could still use "nearest" to find the nearest fraction to the result of the previous computation.

For example:

  '1/2' ** 2 #   Returns a Number::Fraction ('1/4')
  '2/1' ** '2/1' Returns a Number::Fraction ('4/1')
  '2/1' ** '1/2' Returns a real number (1.414213)
   0.5  ** '2/1' Returns a Number::Fraction ('1/4')
   0.25 ** '1/2' Returns a Number::Fraction ('1/2')

Version 3: Now With Added Moo

Version 3 of Number::Fraction has been reimplemented using Moo. You should see very little difference in the way that the class works. The only difference I can see is that "new" used to return "undef" if it couldn't create a valid object from its arguments, it now dies. If you aren't sure of the values that are being passed into the constructor, then you'll want to call it within an "eval { ... }" block (or using something equivalent like Try::Tiny).

METHODS

import

Called when module is "use"d. Use to optionally install constant handler.

unimport

Be a good citizen and uninstall constant handler when caller uses "no Number::Fraction".

BUILDARGS

Parameter massager for Number::Fraction object. Takes the following kinds of parameters:

A single Number::Fraction object which is cloned.
A string in the form 'x/y' where x and y are integers. x is used as the numerator and y is used as the denominator of the new object.
A string in the form 'a_b/c' where a,b and c are integers. The numerator will be equal to a*c+b! and c is used as the denominator of the new object.
Three integers which are used as the integer, numerator and denominator of the new object.
In order for this to work in version 2.x, one needs to enable 'mixed' fractions:
```
  use Number::Fractions ':mixed';
    
```
This will be the default behaviour in version 3.x; when not enabled in version 2.x it will omit a warning to revise your code.
Two integers which are used as the numerator and denominator of the new object.
A single integer which is used as the numerator of the the new object. The denominator is set to 1.
No arguments, in which case a numerator of 0 and a denominator of 1 are used.
Note
As of version 2.1 it no longer allows for an array of four or more integer. Before then, it would simply pass in the first two integers. Version 2.1 allows for three integers (when using ":mixed") and issues a warning when more then two parameters are passed. Starting with version 3, it will die as it is seen as an error to pass invalid input.

Dies if a Number::Fraction object can't be created.

BUILD

Object initialiser for Number::Fraction. Ensures that fractions are in a normalised format.

to_string

Returns a string representation of the fraction in the form "numerator/denominator".

to_mixed

Returns a string representation of the fraction in the form "integer numerator/denominator".

to_unicode_string

Returns a string representation of the fraction in the form "superscript numerator / subscript denominator". A Unicode 'FRACTION SLASH' is used instead of a normal slash.

to_unicode_mixed

Returns a string representation of the fraction in the form "integer superscript numerator / subscript denominator". A Unicode 'FRACTION SLASH' is used instead of a normal slash.

to_halfs

to_quarters

to_eighths

to_thirds

to_sixths

to_fifths

Returns a string representation as a mixed fraction, rounded to the nearest possible 'half', 'quarter' ... and so on.

to_simple

Returns a string representation as a mixed fraction, rounded to the nearest possible to any of the above mentioned standard fractions. NB ⅐, ⅑ or ⅒ are not being used.

Optionally, one can pass in a list of well-known denominators (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) to choose which fractions can be used.

to_num

Returns a numeric representation of the fraction by calculating the sum numerator/denominator. Normal caveats about the precision of floating point numbers apply.

add

Add a value to a fraction object and return a new object representing the result of the calculation.

The first parameter is a fraction object. The second parameter is either another fraction object or a number.

mult

Multiply a fraction object by a value and return a new object representing the result of the calculation.

The first parameter is a fraction object. The second parameter is either another fraction object or a number.

subtract

Subtract a value from a fraction object and return a new object representing the result of the calculation.

The first parameter is a fraction object. The second parameter is either another fraction object or a number.

div

Divide a fraction object by a value and return a new object representing the result of the calculation.

The first parameter is a fraction object. The second parameter is either another fraction object or a number.

exp

Raise a Number::Fraction object to a power.

The first argument is a number fraction object. The second argument is another Number::Fraction object or a number. It will try to compute another new Number::Fraction object. This may fail if either numerator or denominator of the new one are getting too big. In such case the value returned is a real number.

AUTHOR

Dave Cross, <dave@mag-sol.com>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

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

NAME

SYNOPSIS

ABSTRACT

DESCRIPTION

Mixed Fractions and Unicode Support

Experimental Support for Exponentiation

Version 3: Now With Added Moo

METHODS

import

unimport

BUILDARGS

BUILD

to_string

to_mixed

to_unicode_string

to_unicode_mixed

to_halfs

to_quarters

to_eighths

to_thirds

to_sixths

to_fifths

to_simple

to_num

add

mult

subtract

div

exp

abs

fract

int

nearest

EXPORT

SEE ALSO

AUTHOR

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE