Algebra in C#

[cbmeeks]

I'm working on a project that deals with some algebra. Or, actually,
just math in general. It could eventually work it's way up to more
advanced math, analytics, etc.

Anyway, I'm looking for ideas on how to store the actual formulas
using classes.

For example:

class X
{
public Value;
}

class Y
{
public Value;
}

X x = new X();
X.Value = 10;

Y y = new Y();
Y.Value = 20;

Now, I want to store this formula:

x.Value + y.Value * 2

Which should give the value of 60.

Hope that makes sense. I thought about having a Formula class with a
List of classes and then build the formula when needed. Taking care
to add special classes like "multiply", etc but I don't think I like
that idea.

I also thought about storing a string somehow and then just parsing
the string and substitute keyword for classes.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[cbmeeks]

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys!! I am going to look into the
RPN....that is very interesting!

Define "business related values". For many business applications, the
"decimal" type is actually more appropriate. Floating point ("double" or
"float") is susceptible to rounding errors. In financial applications,
this is often impermissible. The "decimal" type can suffer rounding
errors (try dividing one dollar into 3 equal parts :) ) as well depending
on how they are used, but the rules for dealing with rounding are usually
better-defined in that context.

AHH!!! Yeah, I had forgotten about that. hmmm...all of the Math
routines I use use double as input. Wouldn't
You guys have been great. Wish me luck!

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Arne_Vajh=F8j?=]

Ian Semmel wrote:

Possibly the easiest compiler to understand is the RATFOR compiler
invented by Kernighan and Plauger back in the 1970's which was described
in their book "Software Tools". It was a bit of a best-seller, and
basically led to "C" and Pascal (although both these were based on algol).

I belive that Kernighan invented C before RATFOR. And that Wirth
created Pascal before both of them.

Arne