Where to start counting, 0 or 1?
4 comments
When my littlest brother was learning to count, he would count the first object twice (0, 1) then continue as normal.
Honestly, it depends on the situation, and I think you got it right. Things start at 1, steps start at 0.
But starting at 0 presents a problem. If I have a set of stairs with 5 steps, I either count the ground or the landing in my steps but never both. If I want to get to the middle (3rd) step, if I'm at the bottom I just count 1, 2, 3 steps and I'm there, but if I'm at the top I only count 2 steps down. There are really 6 positions I could be, but only 5 steps. You guys may have this down, but it still trips me up sometimes.
Honestly, it depends on the situation, and I think you got it right. Things start at 1, steps start at 0.
But starting at 0 presents a problem. If I have a set of stairs with 5 steps, I either count the ground or the landing in my steps but never both. If I want to get to the middle (3rd) step, if I'm at the bottom I just count 1, 2, 3 steps and I'm there, but if I'm at the top I only count 2 steps down. There are really 6 positions I could be, but only 5 steps. You guys may have this down, but it still trips me up sometimes.
Dijkstra argues 0.
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/transcriptions/EWD08xx/EW...
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/transcriptions/EWD08xx/EW...
In my opinion, convention means nothing.
Do what makes sense according to the problem you're solving.
Do what makes sense according to the problem you're solving.
Maybe that's why programmers start with 0, they usually count steps. Age also starts at 0, nobody is born being 1 year old, although we are living our 1st year of life. Races also start at 0. When you want to know how many eggs are in the basket it makes little sense to say, oh i have an empty basket, 0 eggs, let's add some, now i have 1 egg, 2 eggs, etc.