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sandpaper26 | 2 years ago

Interesting note about using "to" for ranges. I see things like "between 15-20" or "from 15-20" all the time at work, and it's never clear whether 20 is included in that range.

Is "from 15 to 20" more clear, without context on any of these? Or is it always context dependent? How about "between 15 and 20"?

discuss

order

whatshisface|2 years ago

For some reason "between 15 and 20" sounds like it could include 16 and 19 but not 15 and 20.

DiggyJohnson|2 years ago

I think we can presume the reason that between usually refers the space between things, less the things. “The ATM is in the lobby between the elevators and the restaurant” probably mean the ATM in the restaurant.

ykonstant|2 years ago

I have tutored students who struggled severely with numbers; the most success in this task I've had with "pick a number from the list 11, 12, ..., 23".

chrismcb|2 years ago

To me "from 15-20" implies you are starting at a number between 15 and 20. Not that the entire range is 15 to 20. And yes there is also the problem of inclusive or exclusive.

LargeTomato|2 years ago

Interesting. To me, "a number from A to B" is inclusive because "from" implies belonging, making the bounds at least [A,B). The "to", to me, implies the bounds on A apply to the bounds on B. So that would make it inclusive on both edges.

countWSS|2 years ago

You can use [15-20] inclusive and below20 above 15 for excluding? People just hate adding "inclusive" and then complain about ambiguity when its misinterpreted