liniarote 0.1.25

The Liniarote package is a command-line interface for the Liniarote programming language, for use in performing operations in transvalent mathematics (i.e., in which division by zero is permitted and generates predictable results, displayed with the aid of the transvalent number symbol “Ƿ”).

LINIAROTE: A programming language for transvalent mathematics

The Liniarote package is a Python implementation of a command-line interface for the Liniarote programming language, an open-source programming language developed specifically to facilitate operations in transvalent mathematics.

The software is developed by Matthew E. Gladden (with support from Cognitive Firewall LLC and NeuraXenetica LLC) and is made available for use under GNU General Public License Version 3. Please see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html.

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AN OVERVIEW OF TRANSVALENT MATHEMATICS

The distinguishing characteristic of transvalent mathematics is that division by zero is permitted and generates results calculated according to certain clearly defined principles.

The symbol “Ƿ” is used to represent that (transvalent) number which when multiplied by 0 yields a result of 1. An equivalent way of defining Ƿ is to state that it is the quotient generated when 1 is divided by 0.

Informally, one can think of the number Ƿ as a special type of “infinity” that possesses such transcendent power that when 0 is multiplied by it, Ƿ is capable of “lifting” zero out of nothingness to give their product a positive value (i.e., 1). Similarly, the symbol “-Ƿ” is used to represent that (transvalent) number which when multiplied by 0 yields a result of -1; alternatively, -Ƿ can be defined as the quotient generated when -1 is divided by 0.

The number Ƿ is described as “imperishable,” because there is no real number that one can multiply it by in order to yield 0. (Similarly, there is no real number by which -Ƿ can be multiplied to yield 0.)

Intuitively, it is easy to suppose that attempts at dividing by zero must necessarily yield a result that is “undefined,” “meaningless,” or “absurd” and that calculations that attempt to divide by zero are inherently “erroneous.” From a theoretical perspective, though, the definitions that “Ƿ = 1 ÷ 0” and “Ƿ × 0 = 1” are no more intrinsically absurd than (for example) the definitions that “i = √(-1)” and “i² = -1”, which are foundations of the imaginary and complex number systems – and which have would facilitate countless theoretical and practical advances in diverse scientific and technological spheres. The establishment of systems like that found in transvalent mathematics simply required clear formulations of the meaning of “dividing by zero” and rules for interpreting the results that are generated. Frameworks with similarities to transvalent mathematics (e.g., in granting some formal meaning to division by zero) that have been developed in the last 200 years include those of the Riemann sphere (which extends the complex plane by adding a point at infinity) and the projectively extended real line.

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KEY AXIOMS OF TRANSVALENT MATHEMATICS

Axioms of identity and grouping:

Ƿ = 0 + Ƿ
-Ƿ = 0 - Ƿ
n = n + (Ƿ - Ƿ), where n is any real number

Axioms of non-associativity:

(Ƿ + Ƿ) - Ƿ = 0
(Ƿ + (Ƿ - Ƿ) = Ƿ

Axioms of addition and subtraction:

Ƿ + Ƿ = Ƿ
-Ƿ - Ƿ = -Ƿ
Ƿ - Ƿ = 0
-Ƿ + Ƿ = 0

Axioms of multiplication and division:

Ƿ × 0 = 1
-Ƿ × 0 = -1
Ƿ × n = Ƿ, where n is any positive real number
Ƿ × n = -Ƿ, where n is any negative real number
-Ƿ × n = -Ƿ, where n is any positive real number
-Ƿ × n = Ƿ, where n is any negative real number
Ƿ × n ≠ 0, where n is any real number
-Ƿ × n ≠ 0, where n is any real number
n / 0 = (n – 1) + Ƿ, where n is any positive real number
n / 0 = (n + 1) - Ƿ, where n is any negative real number
Ƿ × Ƿ = Ƿ
-Ƿ × Ƿ = -Ƿ
-Ƿ × -Ƿ = Ƿ
Ƿ ÷ 0 = Ƿ
-Ƿ ÷ 0 = -Ƿ
Ƿ ÷ Ƿ = 1
-Ƿ ÷ Ƿ = -1

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SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Ƿ ---> 0 + Ƿ
-Ƿ ---> 0 - Ƿ
4.72 ---> 4.72 + (Ƿ - Ƿ)
Ƿ - 9.31 ---> -9.31 + Ƿ
Ƿ + Ƿ + Ƿ ---> 0 + Ƿ
Ƿ + Ƿ – Ƿ ---> 0 + Ƿ
Ƿ - Ƿ – Ƿ ---> 0 - Ƿ
Ƿ - Ƿ + Ƿ - Ƿ ---> 0 + (Ƿ - Ƿ)
Ƿ + Ƿ + 51.2 + Ƿ ---> 51.2 + Ƿ
Ƿ × 0 ---> 1 + (Ƿ - Ƿ)
-Ƿ × 0 ---> -1 + (Ƿ - Ƿ)
Ƿ × 5.2 ---> 0 + Ƿ
Ƿ × -3.7 ---> 0 - Ƿ
-Ƿ × 7.4 ---> 0 - Ƿ
-Ƿ × -8.9 ---> 0 + Ƿ
1 / 0 ---> 0 + Ƿ
-1 / 0 ---> 0 - Ƿ
3.4 / 0 ---> 2.4 + Ƿ
-5.8 / 0 ---> -4.8 - Ƿ
5.3 ÷ 0 ---> 4.3 + Ƿ
-17.2 ÷ 0 ---> -16.2 - Ƿ

In the case of an equation like “5.3 ÷ 0”, the transvalent number Ƿ does the “impossible” work of uplifting 0 from 0 to 1: the (much easier) remainder of the work is then performed by Ƿ’s “assistants,” in the form of real numbers that increase the value from 1 to that of the number that was divided by 0. In that case, the relevant real number is 4.3, which increases 1 to a targeted sum of 5.3.

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INPUT FORMAT

On the Liniarote command line, the symbol “Ƿ” (Unicode: U+01F7; UTF-8: C7 B7) can be inputted by typing the lowercase letter “w”, which will be automatically converted into “Ƿ” during processing of the input. (Similarly, “-w” will be converted into “-Ƿ”.)

The order of entry of the real and transvalent components of a number is without significance. Thus, both “3 + w” and “w + 3” will, when inputted, be converted into “3 + Ƿ”, while “-5 + w” and “-w – 5” and will be converted into “-5 – Ƿ”.

Inputted constants recognized by Liniarote include “e” and “pi”.

Division is not yet implemented. The operators currently available for use are: + - * ( )

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REQUIREMENTS

Please see the “requirements.txt” file for a list of other Python packages whose installation is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of Liniarote.

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INSPIRATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Within the world of the “Utopian Confederation” RPG series, the foundational text in the field of transvalent mathematics as such was published by a team of Utopian mathematicians in 1911. In honor of their work, the Liniarote programming language was named after one of the 54 cities of the ancient Utopian Commonwealth, as described in ThomasMore’s “Utopia” (1516). Liniarote was created and is maintained by Matthew E. Gladden.

Liniarote code and documentation ©2022-23 Cognitive Firewall LLC