Use "quotient"? (was Re: proposed language change to int/int==float (was: PEP0238 lament))

[Terry Reedy]

"Manoj Plakal" <plakal-nospam at nospam-cs.wisc.edu> wrote in message
news:52Q77.181728$mG4.85523836 at news1.mntp1.il.home.com...
>         It seems to me that the word "division" is being sorely
>         overloaded in these threads as well as in PEP 238. Would
>         it be more precise (mathematically and otherwise) to
>         reword things like this:
>
>            - currently, the symbol `/' in Python programs signifies
>              two different operators depending on the arguments:
>                  - the QUOTIENT operator with 2 integer arguments
>
>                  - the DIVISION operator with at least 1 float
>                    argument
>
>            - the proposed change is to make '/' always signify the
>              DIVISION operator and '//' always signify the QUOTIENT
>              operator
>
>          Seems to be more clear than saying "integer division"
>          or "truncating division" or "float division".

Bravo.  This clear and succinct summary of PEP0238 makes its intent
and virtues clearer than anything I've read (or written) so far.

Guido, please consider something very much like this for the Abstract.

Terry J. Reedy