Discussion: Introducing new operators for matrix computation

[John Lull]

At the dawn of the third millenium (by the common reckoning), Gregory
Lielens <gregory.lielens at fft.be> wrote (with possible deletions):

> Indeed, but it is the old choice between functional/operator notation...
> For example, the second expression, b = (X'*X)\(X'*y), would be in
> functional notation 
> something like b=rDiv(Mul(X.T(),X),Mul(X.T(),y))
> This is ok, but imho far more error prone than operator notation,
> because 
> - all linear algebra textbooks present expressions with operator
> notation
> - the operator notation is more natural to almost everybody when dealing
> with arithmetic

Absolutely.

> I personnaly consider that linear algebra is an extension of simple
> arithmetic, almost on the same level as complex numbers (and usefull to
> the same kind of people which could use complex numbers). 
> The fact that complex numbers are part of built-in python types and can
> be manipulated using standard arithmetic operators plead for a similar
> facility for linear algebra, imho. 

Yes.

Regards,
John