(no subject)

>>> load _def_VX.txt
>>> det(X)
ans = -0.0125
>>> That value should never be less than 0
Error: The input character is not valid in MATLAB statements or expressions.
>>> It's a positive definite matrix   
Error: The input character is not valid in MATLAB statements or expressions.
>>> Don't make me come in there 
Error: The input character is not valid in MATLAB statements or expressions.

Rodney's fingers curled over his keyboard, as though each was independently searching for something to throttle.

"I never tried threats before," Zelenka said over his shoulder. "New debugging strategy?"

"They make me feel better," Rodney growled. He sat back. "You know, all of Atlantis is lucky imminent doom doesn't hang in the balance with this calculation, because if it did, we'd have been doomed. Seven hours ago."

There were ten seconds of silence as Zelenka contemplated the two lines of code on the screen. "How many significant digits did you store in the text file?" he finally asked.

"Oh my god." Rodney hated feeling like an idiot.

"Because if your matrices were nearly singular to begin with, the determinant might change sign--"

"Yes, thank you," Rodney said, with all the nonchalance he could muster. "I see that now."

"Glad to help." Zelenka smiled, and there was no doubt how much he was enjoying himself. "Of course, if you want to rewrite it correctly you should use Fort--"

Rodney held up a hand. "Don't even say it."

Zelenka didn't say it. Instead, he said, rather petulantly under his breath, "Real programming languages index from zero."

"And real mathematics is wasted on floating point architectures."