--- /dev/null
+#ifndef COMPARE_HH
+#define COMPARE_HH
+
+/// handy notations for a signed comparison
+#define instantiate_compare(type, function) \
+inline bool operator>(type t1, type t2) { return function(t1, t2) > 0; } \
+ inline bool operator>=(type t1, type t2) { return function(t1, t2) >= 0; } \
+ inline bool operator==(type t1, type t2) { return function(t1, t2) == 0; } \
+ inline bool operator<=(type t1, type t2) { return function(t1, t2) <= 0; } \
+ inline bool operator<(type t1, type t2) { return function(t1, t2) < 0; } \
+ inline type MAX(type t1, type t2) { return (t1 > t2 )? t1 : t2; }\
+ inline type MIN(type t1, type t2) { return (t1 < t2 )? t1 : t2; }\
+ \
+ bool operator<(type t1, type t2) /* stupid fix to allow ; */
+ /**
+ make the operators{<,<=,==,>=,>} and the MAX and MIN of two.
+ Please fill a & in the type argument if necessary.
+ */
+
+
+
+
+#endif
+