I don't think Graham Parkhouse has commented (as a Briton) so I'll just confirm that the first floor is up the first flight of stairs. However, we don't say "zeroeth" floor unless we're being nerdish or silly - that's the "ground" floor for us. I suppose you could discuss the background of the word "ground" in this context.
I'll list my background if I get round to making substantive comments! Apologies if this has already been answered. Also that this should perhaps be in the "Jchat" category. Mike Don Guinn wrote: > Isn't the floor above the ground floor numbered "1" or "first" in Great > Britain? > > On Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 9:00 AM, Leigh J. Halliwell > <[email protected]>wrote: > > >> Dear J Forum: >> >> Occassionally the zero index-origin trips me up; however, it's one of the >> peculiarities of the language that I accept (like 0%0 = 0, rather than _.) >> in order to use the power of J. I accepted it in APL, and I accept it in >> J. >> Besides, most of the time I replace elements in an array after an "i." >> search, which handles the base consistently. So I think that J developers >> will make better use of their time than to add an option for 0/1 indexing. >> >> Moreover, my degree was in pure mathematics. In set theory one begins with >> the empty set as zero, and defines the next integer (n+1) as the union of n >> and {n}. So the integer (n+1) is essentially the set of integers from zero >> to n. In that regard, counting from zero is mathematically pleasing. >> >> That said, I'll never be so gung-ho about the custom as to start lists with >> zero, as, for example, in the chapter numbering of Ken Iverson's Concrete >> Math Companion -- although I might be tempted label a Forward or an >> Introduction as Chapter 0). Zero developed in the late middle ages, after >> 'first' was established as the leading item. I still bristle at using the >> adjective 'zeroeth'. >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Leigh >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm >> >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
