Looking at one definition: In arithmetic and number theory, the least common multiple (also called the lowest common multiple or smallest common multiple) of two integers a and b, usually denoted by LCM(a, b), is the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of both a and b.[1] It is familiar from grade-school arithmetic as the "lowest common denominator" that must be determined before two fractions can be added.
It does seem that J's usage is contrary to that definition. On 3/31/2011 8:58, Raul Miller wrote: > When I look up "least common multiple", I get definitions for its > result like "the smallest positive integer which is a multiple of both > numbers". > > Of course, that is bogus when one of the numbers is zero, and I am > still looking for a good definition. > > But when one of the arguments to *. is negative, and the other is > positive, I get a negative result instead of a positive result... I > think that this comes from using a definition of *%+. but is it > correct? > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
