Integers with leading zeroes

[Marko Rauhamaa]

Ben Finney <ben+python at benfinney.id.au>:

> Despite that they are represented in text with digits, and the
> authority that generates them may even use some sequence of integers,
> the types should not be treated as numbers.

Let's just say that the word "number" has multiple meanings. Words with
many meanings often lead to confusion.

My native Finnish luckily has distinct words for the two things: "luku"
(a quantity) and "numero" (a digit, numeral or label):

   luonnollinen luku (natural number)
   kokonaisluku      (integer)
   rationaaliluku    (rational number)
   reaaliluku        (real number)
   kompleksiluku     (complex number)
   liukuluku         (floating-point number)
   desimaaliluku     (decimal number)

   puhelinnumero     (telephone number)
   rekisterinumero   (registration number, license plate number)
   tilinumero        (account number)
   huoneen numero    (room number)
   sarjanumero       (serial number)
   tuotenumero       (product number)

Obviously, the words "liukuluku" and "desimaaliluku" slide into the
realms of numerals, but nevertheless, they deal with quantification
rather than identification.


Marko