mathematical formulaes

[Fyron]

Originally posted by tbontob:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
No, it would be bad. ROF is how many turns it takes to recharge and fire the gun. 1 means it can fire every turn, 2 means it fires every other turn, 3 every 3rd turn, and so on.

Quite right.

Bringing the divisor up to the numerator changes it, from rol to 1/rol.

So a better way of putting it may be...
damage/(size*rol)

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The formula is not x/(y/z), which would indead come out to x*z/y. The formula is (x/y)/z.
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No one ever said the forumla was the end-all, beat-all. Of course range and other factors influence the usefulness of a weapon. But, the raw damage is the primary factor when determining the strength of a weapon. All the formula does is to create a base from which to compare weapons of different sizes and rates of fire.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

---

Originally posted by tbontob:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
No, it would be bad. ROF is how many turns it takes to recharge and fire the gun. 1 means it can fire every turn, 2 means it fires every other turn, 3 every 3rd turn, and so on.

Quite right.

Bringing the divisor up to the numerator changes it, from rol to 1/rol.

So a better way of putting it may be...
damage/(size*rol)

---

The formula is not x/(y/z), which would indead come out to x*z/y. The formula is (x/y)/z.
___

No one ever said the forumla was the end-all, beat-all. Of course range and other factors influence the usefulness of a weapon. But, the raw damage is the primary factor when determining the strength of a weapon. All the formula does is to create a base from which to compare weapons of different sizes and rates of fire.

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Fyron, I think you got things a bit mixed up.

I did not say the formula was x/(y/z). In the terms you have used, the formula I gave would be x/(y*z) which is something completely different from x/(y/z).

Also (x/y)/z is the same as x/y/z.

x/y/z =(x/y)/z = (x/y)/(z/1) = (x/y)*(1/z) = x/(y*z) which is the formula I gave above.

Now x/(y*z) is not earth-shattering. It is just that it is usually easier to multiply rather than divide. Which is why I gave the formula as x/(y*z) and for no other reason.

And yes, I agree with you that the formula is not a all-encompassing method of comparing weapons.

If one uses it only as a quick and dirty way to compare weapons, it can be useful. But we should keep in mind that it is only one way of comparing the relative strengths of weapons and therefor is not to be relied upon as the "method" of definitively ranking the value of weapons since other factors which are not reflected in the formula (such as range), can have a major impact on the value of a weapon.

[Suicide Junkie]

If one uses it only as a quick and dirty way to compare weapons, it can be useful. But we should keep in mind that it is only one way of comparing the relative strengths of weapons ...

It gives a very useful BASE strength.
To me, Range, Accuracy, Damage Type and others are all special features which "make up for" any deficit in base strength.
These special features all have variable value as tactical, strategic and technological situations vary. As such, they are not fit to be included in the base rating.

Weapons technology: The art and science of persuading the enemy ships to explode.

[tbontob]

Hmmmm....

I suspect we are all saying the same thing with respect to the formula for as Fyron has said....

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
But, the raw damage is the primary factor when determining the strength of a weapon. All the formula does is to create a base from which to compare weapons of different sizes and rates of fire.

[Fyron]

Ehem...

Originally posted by tbontob:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
No, it would be bad. ROF is how many turns it takes to recharge and fire the gun. 1 means it can fire every turn, 2 means it fires every other turn, 3 every 3rd turn, and so on.

Quite right.

Bringing the divisor up to the numerator changes it, from rol to 1/rol.

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What you posted appears to be some confused mathematics to me. I was merely trying to help alleviate the confusion. It seems as if you are saying to change ROF to 1/ROF, which would be an indication of you thinking it is x/(y/z). Maybe this is simply a result of me being confused by the wording of your post. I don't know.

I will argue that x/(y*z) is not easier than x/y/z. Use a calculator. Fewer keystrokes with x/y/z.

[tbontob]

[quote]Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Ehem...

Originally posted by Fyron:
What you posted appears to be some confused mathematics to me. I was merely trying to help alleviate the confusion. It seems as if you are saying to change ROF to 1/ROF, which would be an indication of you thinking it is x/(y/z). Maybe this is simply a result of me being confused by the wording of your post. I don't know.

I will argue that x/(y*z) is not easier than x/y/z. Use a calculator. Fewer keystrokes with x/y/z.

Actually, it is algebra.

But yes, if you are dependant on a calculator to do the computations, it may be quicker to do it as you have described.

But if you do it in your head, my formula is easier.

[ December 27, 2002, 07:45: Message edited by: tbontob ]

[Fyron]

Your algebra looked fishy to me...

It is faster to reduce complex fractions to decimals with a calculator than in your head.