in reply to Re^3: Algorithm for cancelling common factors between two lists of multiplicands
in thread Algorithm for cancelling common factors between two lists of multiplicands
Sorry sk. I try to always attribute ideas, but it's been a long thread, several days and I've had other conversations beyond the thread. I may have misremembered the sequence of things.
For the algorithm, the problem is the implementation not the sort'n'subtract. With 4 values on top and 5 underneath, there are numerous ways in which the subtraction needs to be done. Ie.
a b c d (b-w)(d-y) (a-v)(c-x) 1 --------- might give ----------- or ----------- or ------------------- +-- or ... v w x y z (v-a)(x-c)z (w-b)(y-d)z (v-a)(w-b)(x-c)(y-d +)z
And for low numbers, the time spent ordering and eliminating outweigths the benefits.
It's just a case of coding the mechanism in an economic fashion.
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