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Asked: 2024-09-27T07:24:33+05:30

How can we effectively convert integers to their French word equivalents considering unique language rules?

I stumbled upon this interesting challenge about translating numbers into French, and I thought it would be super fun to get everyone’s input on how to tackle it!

So, here’s the deal: we need to convert integers into their French word equivalents. Sounds simple, right? But it gets a bit tricky when you hit the numbers above 16. For instance, the way you express numbers like 71 (soixante et onze) or 92 (quatre-vingt-douze) can really mess with your head if you’re not familiar with the rules!

I was trying to wrap my mind around how to approach this. I mean, first off, how do you handle the basics? We know that:
– 1-16 are pretty straightforward: un, deux, trois… all the way to seize.
– Then you start hitting the teens, and suddenly it’s like you need a whole new dictionary. Quatorze, quinze, seize — each has its own flair!

But, here’s where it gets even more complex: once you hit the twenties, it feels like you’re off to an entirely different planet. Take the number 30: it’s “trente.” But what about 31? That’s “trente et un.” Why is it “et un” and not just “trente un”? And don’t even get me started on 80, which is “quatre-vingts” — it kind of feels like French decided to switch things up just to keep us on our toes.

I’ve been playing around with a potential algorithm to do this conversion, but every time I think I’ve got it, I trip over some odd rule. Like the way 70 is treated — do we really call it “soixante-dix” (sixty-ten) instead of just a simple number? It’s fascinating but also a bit maddening.

So, I’m throwing this out there to see how others would approach the problem. Have you tried writing code for this? If so, what’s your strategy? Or maybe you have some insights on how to remember all these quirky rules? I’m all ears because I really want to nail this challenge, and I could use all the help I can get! Let’s share our thoughts and make sense of the French numbering system together!

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    2 Answers

    1. Translating Numbers into French

      Okay, so here’s what I’ve been thinking for tackling this whole translating integers into French thing! 🤔

      Basic Rules:

      • 1-16 are simple: just memorize them: un, deux, trois… jusqu’à seize.
      • Then, 17-19 are: dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf.
      • 20 is “vingt” and then you just add the numbers for 21-29 (like vingt et un).

      Teens and Twenties:

      Once you hit 30, it starts feeling weird:

      • 30 = trente
      • 31 = trente et un
      • 32 = trente-deux, and so on.

      What About 70 and Up?

      Here’s where it really gets wild:

      • 70 is soixante-dix (like sixty-ten),
      • 71 = soixante et onze,
      • 80 is quatre-vingts (four scores!),
      • 81 = quatre-vingt-un,
      • 90 = quatre-vingt-dix,
      • 91 = quatre-vingt-onze.

      Basic Algorithm Idea:

      function translateNumber(num) {
    let below20 = ["zero", "un", "deux", "trois", "quatre", "cinq", "six", "sept", "huit", "neuf", 
                   "dix", "onze", "douze", "treize", "quatorze", "quinze", "seize"];
    let tens = ["", "", "vingt", "trente", "quarante", "cinquante", "soixante", "soixante", 
                "quatre-vingts", "quatre-vingts"];
    
    if (num < 20) return below20[num];
    else if (num < 60) return tens[Math.floor(num / 10)] + (num % 10 === 0 ? '' : '-' + below20[num % 10]);
    else if (num < 80) return "soixante-" + translateNumber(num % 20);
    else if (num < 100) return "quatre-vingt" + (num % 20 === 0 ? 's' : '-' + translateNumber(num % 20));
    
    return "Number out of range"; // for numbers >= 100
}

      The above function is just a starting point. It covers most basics but could use tweaks for edge cases.

      Help Needed!

      If anyone has more ideas or corrections about these rules and how to remember them, please share! This is more complicated than I thought! 😅

    2. To tackle the challenge of translating integers into their French word equivalents, we can break down the process into manageable parts. First, we can create a function that maps numbers from 1 to 16 directly to their French counterparts. For numbers 17 and above, we should account for the unique structures used in the French counting system. For instance, numbers from 17 to 19 can be represented as “dix-sept,” “dix-huit,” and “dix-neuf.” For the tens, we handle them in groups, such as vingt (20), trente (30), and so on. When we encounter numbers in the sixties and above, we will need to implement special cases such as treating 70 as “soixante-dix” (sixty-ten) and 80 as “quatre-vingts” (four-twenties). Also, for numbers like 31, use “trente et un” instead of “trente un” to adhere to the French language rules.

      Here is a simple Python script that demonstrates how to convert integers up to 99 into their French word equivalents:

      
def number_to_french(n):
    if 1 <= n <= 16:
        basic_numbers = ["", "un", "deux", "trois", "quatre", "cinq", "six", "sept", "huit", "neuf", "dix", "onze", "douze", "treize", "quatorze", "quinze", "seize"]
        return basic_numbers[n]
    elif 17 <= n <= 19:
        return "dix-" + number_to_french(n - 10)
    elif 20 <= n <= 69:
        tens = ["", "", "vingt", "trente", "quarante", "cinquante", "soixante"]
        return tens[n // 10] + (" et " + number_to_french(n % 10) if n % 10 != 0 else "")
    elif 70 <= n <= 79:
        return "soixante-" + number_to_french(n % 20)
    elif 80 <= n <= 99:
        return "quatre-vingt" + ("s" if n == 80 else "-" + number_to_french(n % 20))   
    return "Out of range"

for i in range(1, 100):
    print(f"{i}: {number_to_french(i)}")