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From: Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: double free
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2016 13:51:16 -0700
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Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> writes:
> On 13/07/16 21:02, Keith Thompson wrote:
>> Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> writes:
>>> On 13/07/16 15:11, BartC wrote:
>>>> On 13/07/2016 13:57, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>>>> On 13/07/16 13:41, BartC wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> I still think that using * for deference, for multiply and for
>>>>>> 'pointer-to' was a bad idea. The fact that C isn't going to change that
>>>>>> doesn't mean I'm completely wrong.
>>>>>
>>>>> In C, they work fine, and in C, you're completely wrong.
>>>>
>>>> A**B doesn't mean raise A to power B,
>>>
>>> Why on earth would it?
>>
>> Why not?
>
> Indeed. But why?

Because exponentation (at least for positive integer powers) is
repeated multiplication, and repeating the multiplication symbol
`*` as `**` is nicely mnemonic.

(We probably use `*` for multiplication because it's the punctuation
symbol most similar to the mathematical `×`, which wasn't available in
early character sets, or `x`, which is a letter.)

And, of course ...

>> All symbols are ultimately arbitrary.
>
> Yes, that'll do as a "why".
>
> <snip>

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org  <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Working, but not speaking, for JetHead Development, Inc.
"We must do something.  This is something.  Therefore, we must do this."
    -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"