source: branches/HeuristicLab.Analysis.AlgorithmBehavior/HeuristicLab.Analysis.AlgorithmBehavior.Analyzers/3.3/FractionClass.cs @ 10287

//ascheibe: adapted to use BigInteger instead of long

/*
* Author: Syed Mehroz Alam
* Email: smehrozalam@yahoo.com
* URL: Programming Home "http://www.geocities.com/smehrozalam/" 
*
*/

using System;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Numerics;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace Mehroz {
  /// <summary>
  /// Classes Contained:
  ///     Fraction
  ///     FractionException
  /// </summary>

  /// Class name: Fraction
  /// Developed by: Syed Mehroz Alam
  /// Email: mailto:smehrozalam@yahoo.com
  /// URL: http://www.geocities.com/smehrozalam/
  /// Changes: Marc C. Brooks  mailto:IDisposable@gmail.com
  ///          Jeffery Sax    http://www.extremeoptimization.com
  /// Version: 2.2
  /// 
  /// What's new in version 2.0:
  ///     *   Changed Numerator and Denominator from Int32(integer) to Int64(long) for increased range
  ///     *   renamed ConvertToString() to (overloaded) ToString()
  ///     *   added the capability of detecting/raising overflow exceptions
  ///     *   Fixed the bug that very small numbers e.g. 0.00000001 could not be converted to fraction
  ///     *   Other minor bugs fixed
  /// 
  /// What's new in version 2.1
  ///     *   overloaded user-defined conversions to/from Fractions
  ///
  /// What's new in version 2.2 - Marc C. Brooks   mailto:IDisposable@gmail.com
  ///     *   less overflows by finding the GCD for Add [Jeffery Sax] and Multiply [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   understands and handles NaN, PositiveInfinity, NegativeInfinity just like double [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   fixed several uses of int where long was correct [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   made value-type (struct) [Jeffery Sax]
  ///     *   added ToInt32(), ToInt64() which throw for invalid (NaN, PositiveInfinity, NegativeInfinity) [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   removed redundant Value property [Jeffery Sax]
  ///     *   added explicit conversion to Int32 and Int64 [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   better handling of exceptions [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   reorganize code, add XML doc and regions [Marc C. Brooks]
  ///     *   proper implementations of Equals [Marc C. Brooks, Jeffery Sax]
  ///     *   uses Math.Log(xx,2) and Math.Pow(xx,2) to get the best accuracy possible when converting doubles [Marc C. Brooks, Jeffery Sax]
  ///
  /// What's new in version 2.3 - Marc C. Brooks   mailto:IDisposable@gmail.com   01/10/2005
  ///     *   fixed double-to-fraction logic to use continued fraction rules to get best possible precistion [bug fix for Syed Mehroz Alam, idea from  Jeffery Sax]
  ///     * added static readonly values for NaN, PositiveInfinity, NegativeInfinity [idea from Jeffery Sax]
  ///     * moved comparisons into an implementation of IComparer [idea from Jeffery Sax]
  ///     * no longer throws for NaN(s) involved in Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide operations [idea from Jeffery Sax]
  ///     *   added static readonly values for Zero, MinValue, MaxValue, Epsilon to better mirror double
  ///     *   added IsInfinity to better mirror double.
  ///     *   added Modulus and % operators
  ///
  /// Properties:
  ///     Numerator: Set/Get value for Numerator
  ///     Denominator:  Set/Get value for Numerator
  ///     [Note: If you Set either Property, the Fraction should be passed to ReduceFraction at some point.]
  /// 
  /// Constructors:
  ///     no arguments:   initializes fraction as 0/0 = NaN, so don't do that!
  ///     (Numerator, Denominator): initializes fraction with the given numerator and denominator 
  ///                               values and reduces
  ///     (long): initializes fraction with the given long value
  ///     (double):   initializes fraction with the given double value
  ///     (string):   initializes fraction with the given string value
  ///                 the string can be an in the form of and integer, double or fraction.
  ///                 e.g it can be like "123" or "123.321" or "123/456"
  /// 
  /// Public Methods (Description is given with respective methods' definitions)
  ///     Fraction ToFraction(long)
  ///     Fraction ToFraction(double)
  ///     Fraction ToFraction(string)
  ///     Int32 ToInt32()
  ///     Int64 ToInt64()
  ///     double ToDouble()
  ///     (override) string ToString()
  ///     Fraction Inverse()
  ///     Fraction Inverted(long)
  ///     Fraction Inverted(double)
  ///     ReduceFraction(ref Fraction)
  ///     CrossReducePair(ref Fraction, ref Fraction)
  ///     (override) Equals(object)
  ///     (override) GetHashCode()
  /// 
  /// Overloaded Operators (overloaded for Fractions, long and double)
  ///     Unary: -
  ///     Binary: +,-,*,/
  ///     Relational and Logical Operators: ==,!=,<,>,<=,>= (only == and != for long and doubles)
  /// 
  /// Overloaded user-defined conversions
  ///     Implicit:   From long/double/string to Fraction
  ///     Explicit:   From Fraction to long/double/string
  /// </summary>
  [Serializable, StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
  public struct Fraction : IComparable, IFormattable {
    #region Constructors
    /// <summary>
    /// Construct a Fraction from an integral value
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="wholeNumber">The value (eventual numerator)</param>
    /// <remarks>The denominator will be 1</remarks>
    public Fraction(long wholeNumber) {
      if (wholeNumber == long.MinValue)
        wholeNumber++;  // prevent serious issues later..

      m_Numerator = wholeNumber;
      m_Denominator = 1;
      // no reducing required, we're a whole number
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Construct a Fraction from a floating-point value
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="floatingPointNumber">The value</param>
    public Fraction(double floatingPointNumber) {
      this = ToFraction(floatingPointNumber);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Construct a Fraction from a string in any legal format
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="inValue">A string with a legal fraction input format</param>
    /// <remarks>Will reduce the fraction to smallest possible denominator</remarks>
    /// <see>ToFraction(string strValue)</see>
    public Fraction(string inValue) {
      this = ToFraction(inValue);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Construct a Fraction from a numerator, denominator pair
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="numerator">The numerator (top number)</param>
    /// <param name="denominator">The denominator (bottom number)</param>
    /// <remarks>Will reduce the fraction to smallest possible denominator</remarks>
    public Fraction(BigInteger numerator, BigInteger denominator) {
      m_Numerator = numerator;
      m_Denominator = denominator;
      ReduceFraction(ref this);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Private constructor to synthesize a Fraction for indeterminates (NaN and infinites)
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="type">Kind of inderterminate</param>
    private Fraction(Indeterminates type) {
      m_Numerator = (long)type;
      m_Denominator = 0;
      // do NOT reduce, we're clean as can be!
    }
    #endregion

    #region Properties
    /// <summary>
    /// The 'top' part of the fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <example>For 3/4ths, this is the 3</example>
    public BigInteger Numerator {
      get {
        return m_Numerator;
      }
      set {
        m_Numerator = value;
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'bottom' part of the fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <example>For 3/4ths, this is the 4</example>
    public BigInteger Denominator {
      get {
        return m_Denominator;
      }
      set {
        m_Denominator = value;
      }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Expose constants
    public static readonly Fraction NaN = new Fraction(Indeterminates.NaN);
    public static readonly Fraction PositiveInfinity = new Fraction(Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity);
    public static readonly Fraction NegativeInfinity = new Fraction(Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity);
    public static readonly Fraction Zero = new Fraction(0, 1);
    public static readonly Fraction Epsilon = new Fraction(1, Int64.MaxValue);
    private static readonly double EpsilonDouble = 1.0 / Int64.MaxValue;
    public static readonly Fraction MaxValue = new Fraction(Int64.MaxValue, 1);
    public static readonly Fraction MinValue = new Fraction(Int64.MinValue, 1);
    #endregion

    #region Explicit conversions
    #region To primitives
    /// <summary>
    /// Get the integral value of the Fraction object as int/Int32
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The (approximate) integer value</returns>
    /// <remarks>If the value is not a true integer, the fractional part is discarded
    /// (truncated toward zero). If the valid exceeds the range of an Int32 and exception is thrown.</remarks>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Will throw a FractionException for NaN, PositiveInfinity
    /// or NegativeInfinity with the InnerException set to a System.NotFiniteNumberException.</exception>
    /// <exception cref="OverflowException" Will throw a System.OverflowException if the value is too
    /// large or small to be represented as an Int32.</exception>
    public Int32 ToInt32() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 0) {
        throw new FractionException(string.Format("Cannot convert {0} to Int32", IndeterminateTypeName(this.m_Numerator)), new System.NotFiniteNumberException());
      }

      BigInteger bestGuess = this.m_Numerator / this.m_Denominator;

      if (bestGuess > Int32.MaxValue || bestGuess < Int32.MinValue) {
        throw new FractionException("Cannot convert to Int32", new System.OverflowException());
      }

      return (Int32)bestGuess;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Get the value of the Fraction object as double with full support for NaNs and infinities
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The decimal representation of the Fraction, or double.NaN, double.NegativeInfinity
    /// or double.PositiveInfinity</returns>
    public double ToDouble() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 1)
        return (double)this.m_Numerator;
      else if (this.m_Denominator == 0) {
        switch (NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator)) {
          case Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity:
            return double.NegativeInfinity;

          case Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity:
            return double.PositiveInfinity;

          case Indeterminates.NaN:
          default:    // this can't happen
            return double.NaN;
        }
      } else {
        ReduceFraction(ref this);
        return (double)(this.m_Numerator / this.m_Denominator);
      }
    }

    public double ToDouble(int digits) {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 1)
        return (double)this.m_Numerator;
      else if (this.m_Denominator == 0) {
        switch (NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator)) {
          case Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity:
            return double.NegativeInfinity;

          case Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity:
            return double.PositiveInfinity;

          case Indeterminates.NaN:
          default:    // this can't happen
            return double.NaN;
        }
      } else {
        ReduceFraction(ref this);
        int factor = (int)Math.Pow(10, digits);
        return ((double)((this.m_Numerator * factor) / this.m_Denominator)) / factor;
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Get the value of the Fraction as a string, with proper representation for NaNs and infinites
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The string representation of the Fraction, or the culture-specific representations of
    /// NaN, PositiveInfinity or NegativeInfinity.</returns>
    /// <remarks>The current culture determines the textual representation the Indeterminates</remarks>
    public override string ToString() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 1) {
        return this.m_Numerator.ToString();
      } else if (this.m_Denominator == 0) {
        return IndeterminateTypeName(this.m_Numerator);
      } else {
        return this.m_Numerator.ToString() + "/" + this.m_Denominator.ToString();
      }
    }
    #endregion

    #region From primitives
    /// <summary>
    /// Converts a long value to the exact Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="inValue">The long to convert</param>
    /// <returns>An exact representation of the value</returns>
    public static Fraction ToFraction(long inValue) {
      return new Fraction(inValue);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Converts a double value to the approximate Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="inValue">The double to convert</param>
    /// <returns>A best-fit representation of the value</returns>
    /// <remarks>Supports double.NaN, double.PositiveInfinity and double.NegativeInfinity</remarks>
    public static Fraction ToFraction(double inValue) {
      // it's one of the indeterminates... which?
      if (double.IsNaN(inValue))
        return NaN;
      else if (double.IsNegativeInfinity(inValue))
        return NegativeInfinity;
      else if (double.IsPositiveInfinity(inValue))
        return PositiveInfinity;
      else if (inValue == 0.0d)
        return Zero;

      int sign = Math.Sign(inValue);
      inValue = Math.Abs(inValue);

      return ConvertPositiveDouble(sign, inValue);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Converts a string to the corresponding reduced fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="inValue">The string representation of a fractional value</param>
    /// <returns>The Fraction that represents the string</returns>
    /// <remarks>Four forms are supported, as a plain integer, as a double, or as Numerator/Denominator
    /// and the representations for NaN and the infinites</remarks>
    /// <example>"123" = 123/1 and "1.25" = 5/4 and "10/36" = 5/13 and NaN = 0/0 and
    /// PositiveInfinity = 1/0 and NegativeInfinity = -1/0</example>
    public static Fraction ToFraction(string inValue) {
      if (inValue == null || inValue == string.Empty)
        throw new ArgumentNullException("inValue");

      // could also be NumberFormatInfo.InvariantInfo
      NumberFormatInfo info = NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo;

      // Is it one of the special symbols for NaN and such...
      string trimmedValue = inValue.Trim();

      if (trimmedValue == info.NaNSymbol)
        return NaN;
      else if (trimmedValue == info.PositiveInfinitySymbol)
        return PositiveInfinity;
      else if (trimmedValue == info.NegativeInfinitySymbol)
        return NegativeInfinity;
      else {
        // Not special, is it a Fraction?
        int slashPos = inValue.IndexOf('/');

        if (slashPos > -1) {
          // string is in the form of Numerator/Denominator
          long numerator = Convert.ToInt64(inValue.Substring(0, slashPos));
          long denominator = Convert.ToInt64(inValue.Substring(slashPos + 1));

          return new Fraction(numerator, denominator);
        } else {
          // the string is not in the form of a fraction
          // hopefully it is double or integer, do we see a decimal point?
          int decimalPos = inValue.IndexOf(info.CurrencyDecimalSeparator);

          if (decimalPos > -1)
            return new Fraction(Convert.ToDouble(inValue));
          else
            return new Fraction(Convert.ToInt64(inValue));
        }
      }
    }
    #endregion
    #endregion

    #region Indeterminate classifications
    /// <summary>
    /// Determines if a Fraction represents a Not-a-Number
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>True if the Fraction is a NaN</returns>
    public bool IsNaN() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 0
        && NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator) == Indeterminates.NaN)
        return true;
      else
        return false;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Determines if a Fraction represents Any Infinity
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>True if the Fraction is Positive Infinity or Negative Infinity</returns>
    public bool IsInfinity() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 0
        && NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator) != Indeterminates.NaN)
        return true;
      else
        return false;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Determines if a Fraction represents Positive Infinity
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>True if the Fraction is Positive Infinity</returns>
    public bool IsPositiveInfinity() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 0
        && NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator) == Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity)
        return true;
      else
        return false;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Determines if a Fraction represents Negative Infinity
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>True if the Fraction is Negative Infinity</returns>
    public bool IsNegativeInfinity() {
      if (this.m_Denominator == 0
        && NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator) == Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity)
        return true;
      else
        return false;
    }
    #endregion

    #region Inversion
    /// <summary>
    /// Inverts a Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The inverted Fraction (with Denominator over Numerator)</returns>
    /// <remarks>Does NOT throw for zero Numerators as later use of the fraction will catch the error.</remarks>
    public Fraction Inverse() {
      // don't use the obvious constructor because we do not want it normalized at this time
      Fraction frac = new Fraction();

      frac.m_Numerator = this.m_Denominator;
      frac.m_Denominator = this.m_Numerator;
      return frac;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Creates an inverted Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The inverted Fraction (with Denominator over Numerator)</returns>
    /// <remarks>Does NOT throw for zero Numerators as later use of the fraction will catch the error.</remarks>
    public static Fraction Inverted(long value) {
      Fraction frac = new Fraction(value);
      return frac.Inverse();
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Creates an inverted Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The inverted Fraction (with Denominator over Numerator)</returns>
    /// <remarks>Does NOT throw for zero Numerators as later use of the fraction will catch the error.</remarks>
    public static Fraction Inverted(double value) {
      Fraction frac = new Fraction(value);
      return frac.Inverse();
    }
    #endregion

    #region Operators
    #region Unary Negation operator
    /// <summary>
    /// Negates the Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">The Fraction to negate</param>
    /// <returns>The negative version of the Fraction</returns>
    public static Fraction operator -(Fraction left) {
      return Negate(left);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Addition operators
    public static Fraction operator +(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return Add(left, right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator +(long left, Fraction right) {
      return Add(new Fraction(left), right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator +(Fraction left, long right) {
      return Add(left, new Fraction(right));
    }

    public static Fraction operator +(double left, Fraction right) {
      return Add(ToFraction(left), right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator +(Fraction left, double right) {
      return Add(left, ToFraction(right));
    }
    #endregion

    #region Subtraction operators
    public static Fraction operator -(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return Add(left, -right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator -(long left, Fraction right) {
      return Add(new Fraction(left), -right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator -(Fraction left, long right) {
      return Add(left, new Fraction(-right));
    }

    public static Fraction operator -(double left, Fraction right) {
      return Add(ToFraction(left), -right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator -(Fraction left, double right) {
      return Add(left, ToFraction(-right));
    }
    #endregion

    #region Multiplication operators
    public static Fraction operator *(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return Multiply(left, right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator *(long left, Fraction right) {
      return Multiply(new Fraction(left), right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator *(Fraction left, long right) {
      return Multiply(left, new Fraction(right));
    }

    public static Fraction operator *(double left, Fraction right) {
      return Multiply(ToFraction(left), right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator *(Fraction left, double right) {
      return Multiply(left, ToFraction(right));
    }
    #endregion

    #region Division operators
    public static Fraction operator /(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return Multiply(left, right.Inverse());
    }

    public static Fraction operator /(long left, Fraction right) {
      return Multiply(new Fraction(left), right.Inverse());
    }

    public static Fraction operator /(Fraction left, long right) {
      return Multiply(left, Inverted(right));
    }

    public static Fraction operator /(double left, Fraction right) {
      return Multiply(ToFraction(left), right.Inverse());
    }

    public static Fraction operator /(Fraction left, double right) {
      return Multiply(left, Inverted(right));
    }
    #endregion

    #region Modulus operators
    public static Fraction operator %(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return Modulus(left, right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator %(long left, Fraction right) {
      return Modulus(new Fraction(left), right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator %(Fraction left, long right) {
      return Modulus(left, right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator %(double left, Fraction right) {
      return Modulus(ToFraction(left), right);
    }

    public static Fraction operator %(Fraction left, double right) {
      return Modulus(left, right);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Equal operators
    public static bool operator ==(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return left.CompareEquality(right, false);
    }

    public static bool operator ==(Fraction left, long right) {
      return left.CompareEquality(new Fraction(right), false);
    }

    public static bool operator ==(Fraction left, double right) {
      return left.CompareEquality(new Fraction(right), false);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Not-equal operators
    public static bool operator !=(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return left.CompareEquality(right, true);
    }

    public static bool operator !=(Fraction left, long right) {
      return left.CompareEquality(new Fraction(right), true);
    }

    public static bool operator !=(Fraction left, double right) {
      return left.CompareEquality(new Fraction(right), true);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Inequality operators
    /// <summary>
    /// Compares two Fractions to see if left is less than right
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">The first Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">The second Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>True if <paramref name="left">left</paramref> is less
    /// than <paramref name="right">right</paramref></returns>
    /// <remarks>Special handling for indeterminates exists. <see>IndeterminateLess</see></remarks>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Throws an error if overflows occur while computing the 
    /// difference with an InnerException of OverflowException</exception>
    public static bool operator <(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return left.CompareTo(right) < 0;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Compares two Fractions to see if left is greater than right
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">The first Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">The second Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>True if <paramref name="left">left</paramref> is greater
    /// than <paramref name="right">right</paramref></returns>
    /// <remarks>Special handling for indeterminates exists. <see>IndeterminateLess</see></remarks>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Throws an error if overflows occur while computing the 
    /// difference with an InnerException of OverflowException</exception>
    public static bool operator >(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return left.CompareTo(right) > 0;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Compares two Fractions to see if left is less than or equal to right
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">The first Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">The second Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>True if <paramref name="left">left</paramref> is less than or 
    /// equal to <paramref name="right">right</paramref></returns>
    /// <remarks>Special handling for indeterminates exists. <see>IndeterminateLessEqual</see></remarks>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Throws an error if overflows occur while computing the 
    /// difference with an InnerException of OverflowException</exception>
    public static bool operator <=(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return left.CompareTo(right) <= 0;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Compares two Fractions to see if left is greater than or equal to right
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">The first Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">The second Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>True if <paramref name="left">left</paramref> is greater than or 
    /// equal to <paramref name="right">right</paramref></returns>
    /// <remarks>Special handling for indeterminates exists. <see>IndeterminateLessEqual</see></remarks>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Throws an error if overflows occur while computing the 
    /// difference with an InnerException of OverflowException</exception>
    public static bool operator >=(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      return left.CompareTo(right) >= 0;
    }
    #endregion

    #region Implict conversion from primitive operators
    /// <summary>
    /// Implicit conversion of a long integral value to a Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="value">The long integral value to convert</param>
    /// <returns>A Fraction whose denominator is 1</returns>
    public static implicit operator Fraction(long value) {
      return new Fraction(value);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Implicit conversion of a double floating point value to a Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="value">The double value to convert</param>
    /// <returns>A reduced Fraction</returns>
    public static implicit operator Fraction(double value) {
      return new Fraction(value);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Implicit conversion of a string to a Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="value">The string to convert</param>
    /// <returns>A reduced Fraction</returns>
    public static implicit operator Fraction(string value) {
      return new Fraction(value);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Explicit converstion to primitive operators
    /// <summary>
    /// Explicit conversion from a Fraction to an integer
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="frac">the Fraction to convert</param>
    /// <returns>The integral representation of the Fraction</returns>
    public static explicit operator int(Fraction frac) {
      return frac.ToInt32();
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Explicit conversion from a Fraction to a double floating-point value
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="frac">The Fraction to convert</param>
    /// <returns>The double representation of the Fraction</returns>
    public static explicit operator double(Fraction frac) {
      return frac.ToDouble();
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Explicit conversion from a Fraction to a string
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="frac">the Fraction to convert</param>
    /// <returns>The string representation of the Fraction</returns>
    public static implicit operator string(Fraction frac) {
      return frac.ToString();
    }
    #endregion
    #endregion

    #region Equals and GetHashCode overrides
    /// <summary>
    /// Compares for equality the current Fraction to the value passed.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="obj">A  Fraction,</param>
    /// <returns>True if the value equals the current fraction, false otherwise (including for
    /// non-Fraction types or null object.</returns>
    public override bool Equals(object obj) {
      if (obj == null || !(obj is Fraction))
        return false;

      try {
        Fraction right = (Fraction)obj;
        return this.CompareEquality(right, false);
      }
      catch {
        // can't throw in an Equals!
        return false;
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Returns a hash code generated from the current Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>The hash code</returns>
    /// <remarks>Reduces (in-place) the Fraction first.</remarks>
    public override int GetHashCode() {
      // insure we're as close to normalized as possible first
      ReduceFraction(ref this);

      int numeratorHash = this.m_Numerator.GetHashCode();
      int denominatorHash = this.m_Denominator.GetHashCode();

      return (numeratorHash ^ denominatorHash);
    }
    #endregion

    #region IComparable member and type-specific version
    /// <summary>
    /// Compares an object to this Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="obj">The object to compare against (null is less than everything)</param>
    /// <returns>-1 if this is less than <paramref name="obj"></paramref>,
    ///  0 if they are equal,
    ///  1 if this is greater than <paramref name="obj"></paramref></returns>
    /// <remarks>Will convert an object from longs, doubles, and strings as this is a value-type.</remarks>
    public int CompareTo(object obj) {
      if (obj == null)
        return 1; // null is less than anything

      Fraction right;

      if (obj is Fraction)
        right = (Fraction)obj;
      else if (obj is long)
        right = (long)obj;
      else if (obj is double)
        right = (double)obj;
      else if (obj is string)
        right = (string)obj;
      else
        throw new ArgumentException("Must be convertible to Fraction", "obj");

      return this.CompareTo(right);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Compares this Fraction to another Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="right">The Fraction to compare against</param>
    /// <returns>-1 if this is less than <paramref name="right"></paramref>,
    ///  0 if they are equal,
    ///  1 if this is greater than <paramref name="right"></paramref></returns>
    public int CompareTo(Fraction right) {
      // if left is an indeterminate, punt to the helper...
      if (this.m_Denominator == 0) {
        return IndeterminantCompare(NormalizeIndeterminate(this.m_Numerator), right);
      }

      // if right is an indeterminate, punt to the helper...
      if (right.m_Denominator == 0) {
        // note sign-flip...
        return -IndeterminantCompare(NormalizeIndeterminate(right.m_Numerator), this);
      }

      // they're both normal Fractions
      CrossReducePair(ref this, ref right);

      try {
        checked {
          BigInteger leftScale = this.m_Numerator * right.m_Denominator;
          BigInteger rightScale = this.m_Denominator * right.m_Numerator;

          if (leftScale < rightScale)
            return -1;
          else if (leftScale > rightScale)
            return 1;
          else
            return 0;
        }
      }
      catch (Exception e) {
        throw new FractionException(string.Format("CompareTo({0}, {1}) error", this, right), e);
      }
    }
    #endregion

    #region IFormattable Members
    string System.IFormattable.ToString(string format, IFormatProvider formatProvider) {
      return this.m_Numerator.ToString(format, formatProvider) + "/" + this.m_Denominator.ToString(format, formatProvider);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Reduction
    /// <summary>
    /// Reduces (simplifies) a Fraction by dividing down to lowest possible denominator (via GCD)
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="frac">The Fraction to be reduced [WILL BE MODIFIED IN PLACE]</param>
    /// <remarks>Modifies the input arguments in-place! Will normalize the NaN and infinites
    /// representation. Will set Denominator to 1 for any zero numerator. Moves sign to the
    /// Numerator.</remarks>
    /// <example>2/4 will be reduced to 1/2</example>
    public static void ReduceFraction(ref Fraction frac) {
      // clean up the NaNs and infinites
      if (frac.m_Denominator == 0) {
        frac.m_Numerator = (long)NormalizeIndeterminate(frac.m_Numerator);
        return;
      }

      // all forms of zero are alike.
      if (frac.m_Numerator == 0) {
        frac.m_Denominator = 1;
        return;
      }

      BigInteger iGCD = BigInteger.GreatestCommonDivisor(frac.m_Numerator, frac.m_Denominator);
      frac.m_Numerator /= iGCD;
      frac.m_Denominator /= iGCD;

      // if negative sign in denominator
      if (frac.m_Denominator < 0) {
        //move negative sign to numerator
        frac.m_Numerator = -frac.m_Numerator;
        frac.m_Denominator = -frac.m_Denominator;
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Cross-reduces a pair of Fractions so that we have the best GCD-reduced values for multiplication
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="frac1">The first Fraction [WILL BE MODIFIED IN PLACE]</param>
    /// <param name="frac2">The second Fraction [WILL BE MODIFIED IN PLACE]</param>
    /// <remarks>Modifies the input arguments in-place!</remarks>
    /// <example>(3/4, 5/9) = (1/4, 5/3)</example>
    public static void CrossReducePair(ref Fraction frac1, ref Fraction frac2) {
      // leave the indeterminates alone!
      if (frac1.m_Denominator == 0 || frac2.m_Denominator == 0)
        return;

      BigInteger gcdTop = BigInteger.GreatestCommonDivisor(frac1.m_Numerator, frac2.m_Denominator);
      frac1.m_Numerator = frac1.m_Numerator / gcdTop;
      frac2.m_Denominator = frac2.m_Denominator / gcdTop;

      BigInteger gcdBottom = BigInteger.GreatestCommonDivisor(frac1.m_Denominator, frac2.m_Numerator);
      frac2.m_Numerator = frac2.m_Numerator / gcdBottom;
      frac1.m_Denominator = frac1.m_Denominator / gcdBottom;
    }
    #endregion

    #region Implementation
    #region Convert a double to a fraction
    private static Fraction ConvertPositiveDouble(int sign, double inValue) {
      // Shamelessly stolen from http://homepage.smc.edu/kennedy_john/CONFRAC.PDF
      // with AccuracyFactor == double.Episilon
      long fractionNumerator = (long)inValue;
      double fractionDenominator = 1;
      double previousDenominator = 0;
      double remainingDigits = inValue;
      int maxIterations = 594;  // found at http://www.ozgrid.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-22530.html

      while (remainingDigits != Math.Floor(remainingDigits)
        && Math.Abs(inValue - (fractionNumerator / fractionDenominator)) > double.Epsilon) {
        remainingDigits = 1.0 / (remainingDigits - Math.Floor(remainingDigits));

        double scratch = fractionDenominator;

        fractionDenominator = (Math.Floor(remainingDigits) * fractionDenominator) + previousDenominator;
        fractionNumerator = (long)(inValue * fractionDenominator + 0.5);

        previousDenominator = scratch;

        if (maxIterations-- < 0)
          break;
      }

      return new Fraction(fractionNumerator * sign, (long)fractionDenominator);
    }
    #endregion

    #region Equality helper
    /// <summary>
    /// Compares for equality the current Fraction to the value passed.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="right">A Fraction to compare against</param>
    /// <param name="notEqualCheck">If true, we're looking for not-equal</param>
    /// <returns>True if the <paramref name="right"></paramref> equals the current 
    /// fraction, false otherwise. If comparing two NaNs, they are always equal AND
    /// not-equal.</returns>
    private bool CompareEquality(Fraction right, bool notEqualCheck) {
      // insure we're normalized first
      ReduceFraction(ref this);

      // now normalize the comperand
      ReduceFraction(ref right);

      if (this.m_Numerator == right.m_Numerator && this.m_Denominator == right.m_Denominator) {
        // special-case rule, two NaNs are always both equal
        if (notEqualCheck && this.IsNaN())
          return true;
        else
          return !notEqualCheck;
      } else {
        return notEqualCheck;
      }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Comparison helper
    /// <summary>
    /// Determines how this Fraction, of an indeterminate type, compares to another Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="leftType">What kind of indeterminate</param>
    /// <param name="right">The other Fraction to compare against</param>
    /// <returns>-1 if this is less than <paramref name="right"></paramref>,
    ///  0 if they are equal,
    ///  1 if this is greater than <paramref name="right"></paramref></returns>
    /// <remarks>NaN is less than anything except NaN and Negative Infinity. Negative Infinity is less
    /// than anything except Negative Infinity. Positive Infinity is greater than anything except
    /// Positive Infinity.</remarks>
    private static int IndeterminantCompare(Indeterminates leftType, Fraction right) {
      switch (leftType) {
        case Indeterminates.NaN:
          // A NaN is...
          if (right.IsNaN())
            return 0; // equal to a NaN
          else if (right.IsNegativeInfinity())
            return 1; // great than Negative Infinity
          else
            return -1;  // less than anything else

        case Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity:
          // Negative Infinity is...
          if (right.IsNegativeInfinity())
            return 0; // equal to Negative Infinity
          else
            return -1;  // less than anything else

        case Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity:
          if (right.IsPositiveInfinity())
            return 0; // equal to Positive Infinity
          else
            return 1; // greater than anything else

        default:
          // this CAN'T happen, something VERY wrong is going on...
          return 0;
      }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Math helpers
    /// <summary>
    /// Negates the Fraction
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="frac">Value to negate</param>
    /// <returns>A new Fraction that is sign-flipped from the input</returns>
    private static Fraction Negate(Fraction frac) {
      // for a NaN, it's still a NaN
      return new Fraction(-frac.m_Numerator, frac.m_Denominator);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Adds two Fractions
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">A Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">Another Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>Sum of the Fractions. Returns NaN if either Fraction is a NaN.</returns>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Will throw if an overflow occurs when computing the
    /// GCD-normalized values.</exception>
    private static Fraction Add(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      if (left.IsNaN() || right.IsNaN())
        return NaN;

      BigInteger gcd = BigInteger.GreatestCommonDivisor(left.m_Denominator, right.m_Denominator); // cannot return less than 1
      BigInteger leftDenominator = left.m_Denominator / gcd;
      BigInteger rightDenominator = right.m_Denominator / gcd;

      try {
        checked {
          BigInteger numerator = left.m_Numerator * rightDenominator + right.m_Numerator * leftDenominator;
          BigInteger denominator = leftDenominator * rightDenominator * gcd;

          return new Fraction(numerator, denominator);
        }
      }
      catch (Exception e) {
        throw new FractionException("Add error", e);
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Multiplies two Fractions
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">A Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">Another Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>Product of the Fractions. Returns NaN if either Fraction is a NaN.</returns>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Will throw if an overflow occurs. Does a cross-reduce to 
    /// insure only the unavoidable overflows occur.</exception>
    private static Fraction Multiply(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      if (left.IsNaN() || right.IsNaN())
        return NaN;

      // this would be unsafe if we were not a ValueType, because we would be changing the
      // caller's values.  If we change back to a class, must use temporaries
      CrossReducePair(ref left, ref right);

      try {
        checked {
          BigInteger numerator = left.m_Numerator * right.m_Numerator;
          BigInteger denominator = left.m_Denominator * right.m_Denominator;

          return new Fraction(numerator, denominator);
        }
      }
      catch (Exception e) {
        throw new FractionException("Multiply error", e);
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Returns the modulus (remainder after dividing) two Fractions
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="left">A Fraction</param>
    /// <param name="right">Another Fraction</param>
    /// <returns>Modulus of the Fractions. Returns NaN if either Fraction is a NaN.</returns>
    /// <exception cref="FractionException">Will throw if an overflow occurs. Does a cross-reduce to 
    /// insure only the unavoidable overflows occur.</exception>
    private static Fraction Modulus(Fraction left, Fraction right) {
      if (left.IsNaN() || right.IsNaN())
        return NaN;

      try {
        checked {
          // this will discard any fractional places...
          Int64 quotient = (Int64)(left / right);
          Fraction whole = new Fraction(quotient * right.m_Numerator, right.m_Denominator);
          return left - whole;
        }
      }
      catch (Exception e) {
        throw new FractionException("Modulus error", e);
      }
    }
    #endregion

    #region Indeterminate helpers
    /// <summary>
    /// Gives the culture-related representation of the indeterminate types NaN, PositiveInfinity
    /// and NegativeInfinity
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="numerator">The value in the numerator</param>
    /// <returns>The culture-specific string representation of the implied value</returns>
    /// <remarks>Only the sign and zero/non-zero information is relevant.</remarks>
    private static string IndeterminateTypeName(BigInteger numerator) {
      // could also be NumberFormatInfo.InvariantInfo
      System.Globalization.NumberFormatInfo info = NumberFormatInfo.CurrentInfo;

      switch (NormalizeIndeterminate(numerator)) {
        case Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity:
          return info.PositiveInfinitySymbol;

        case Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity:
          return info.NegativeInfinitySymbol;

        default:    // if this happens, something VERY wrong is going on...
        case Indeterminates.NaN:
          return info.NaNSymbol;
      }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Gives the normalize representation of the indeterminate types NaN, PositiveInfinity
    /// and NegativeInfinity
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="numerator">The value in the numerator</param>
    /// <returns>The normalized version of the indeterminate type</returns>
    /// <remarks>Only the sign and zero/non-zero information is relevant.</remarks>
    private static Indeterminates NormalizeIndeterminate(BigInteger numerator) {
      switch (numerator.Sign) {
        case 1:
          return Indeterminates.PositiveInfinity;

        case -1:
          return Indeterminates.NegativeInfinity;

        default:    // if this happens, your Math.Sign function is BROKEN!
        case 0:
          return Indeterminates.NaN;
      }
    }

    // These are used to represent the indeterminate with a Denominator of zero
    private enum Indeterminates {
      NaN = 0
      ,
      PositiveInfinity = 1
        , NegativeInfinity = -1
    }
    #endregion

    #region Member variables
    private BigInteger m_Numerator;
    private BigInteger m_Denominator;
    #endregion
    #endregion
  }   //end class Fraction

  /// <summary>
  /// Exception class for Fraction, derived from System.Exception
  /// </summary>
  public class FractionException : Exception {
    /// <summary>
    /// Constructs a FractionException
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="Message">String associated with the error message</param>
    /// <param name="InnerException">Actual inner exception caught</param>
    public FractionException(string Message, Exception InnerException)
      : base(Message, InnerException) {
    }
  }   //end class FractionException
}   //end namespace Mehroz