From Martin Maechler <maechler@stat.math.ethz.ch>  Wed May  6 11:01:35 1998
From: Martin Maechler <maechler@stat.math.ethz.ch> (Martin Maechler)
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 12:01:35 +0200
Subject: min(numeric(0)) = ?   -- proposal for "S incompatible change"
Message-ID: <199805061001.MAA05776@sophie.ethz.ch>

[Same question for  max(.),  cummin(.) and cummax(.)]

In S, S-plus and R, this currently gives NA.

I wonder if it wouldn't make more sense to follow common
mathematical/logical reasoning here:

	min { empty set } = +Inf

	max { empty set } = -Inf

(For integers, these would be  INT_MAX and INT_MIN, respectively).

Maybe this is a real ``first time'':

	I am proposing a change which would lead from
	"S compatible" to  "S incompatible"

	{since I don't expect S to change, 
	 given my recent experience with my plea to change 'n %% m' 
	 (for negative n or m, the result DIFFERS, depending on
	  storage.mode = "integer" or "double" !!!)

	Note that I've spent quite a bit more thought on the "%%" issue 
	than on this one!


Comments?
Pros/ Cons?

Martin Maechler <maechler@stat.math.ethz.ch>			<><
Seminar fuer Statistik, ETH-Zentrum SOL G1;	Sonneggstr.33
ETH (Federal Inst. Technology)	8092 Zurich	SWITZERLAND
phone: x-41-1-632-3408		fax: ...-1086
http://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/~maechler/
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min(numeric(0)) = ? -- proposal for "S incompatible change"
Martin Maechler