Java Generics and numbers

Question

In an attempt to see if I can clean up some of my math code, mostly matrix stuff, I am trying to use some Java Generics. I have the following method:

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Answer 1

I think you are fighting a losing battle. Even if you solve this, how are you planning on solving addition, subtraction etc? The number class is not a very useful superclass, and about the only useful method is doubleValue().

Zero can be defined as the identity in addition or a zero in multiplication, but without a generic definition of addition or multiplication, a generic definition of zero is unlikely.

If you want this then you might be better just sticking with BigDecimal for everything, but of course that will have associated performance penalties.

The other obvious option would be to leave the array with null initialisation, and then change your other code to treat null as zero.