NAME Math::Inequalities::Parser - Minimum and maximum values allowed by an inequality. SYNOPSIS use Math::Inequalities::Parser; my ($min, $max) = parse_inequality( ' 10 < n < 20 ' ); # $min = 11 # $max = 19 DESCRIPTION Tiny library for parsing integer maximum and minimum out when given an arbitrary inequality. Because getting this simple thing right was far harder than it looked, and I never want to have to think about it again. FUNCTIONS parse_inequality Parses an inequality string and returns a list of two values, the minimum and the maxium value that string will allow. TYPES OF INEQUALITY VALUE The simplest type, a single value, e.g. "42 = Min 42, Max 42". n < VALUE Maximum is VALUE - 1, Minimum is undefined, e.g. "n < 42 = Min undef, Max 41". n > VALUE Minimum is VALUE +1, Maximum is undefined, e.g. "n > 42 = Min 43, Max undef". n <= VALUE Maximum is VALUE, Minimum is undefined, e.g. "n < 42 = Min undef, Max 42". n >= VALUE Minimum is VALUE, Maximum is undefined, e.g. "n > 42 = Min 42, Max undef". Cases with VALUE, followed by N. Handled as above, but with minimum and maximum reversed as expected. VALUE1 < n < VALUE2 Minimum is VALUE1 + 1, maximum is VALUE2 - 1, e.g "42 < n < 200 = Min 43, Max 199". BUGS Does not handle "VALUE1 <= n <= VALUE2" or similar. Patches welcome. Does not complain at impossible " combinations (e.g. "5 < n < 4") which result in a higher minumum than the maxiumum. Patches welcome. Does not work with negative numbers. Patches welcome. Always uses "n" as the number identifier, this should be configureable at import time. Uses Exporter (should use Sub::Exporter) DOES NOT work with floating point numbers. I consider this a feature. AUTHORS Tomas Doran (t0m) "" Dave Lambley COPYRIGHT & LICENSE Copyright 2011 the above author(s). This sofware is free software, and is licensed under the same terms as perl itself.