math problem

From: Nate Hill <nathanielhill_at_nyob>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:57:27 -0800
To: CODE4LIB_at_LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Here's a brain teaser for the mathematically inclined:

I've got a set of values that I want to scale to the 0-255 range so that I
can adjust colors in my CSS.
Say I have the following data: (6, 457, 97, 200, 122).
I'd like to scale those numbers so that the highest one, 475 = 255.
and the lowest one, 6 = 0.
All of the other numbers, 97, 200, and 122 should be scaled proportionally
to fit within the range.

This way, when I loop through and hit my CSS {background-color:rgb(255,
**data**, 255);} each piece of data will generate a different color and
I'll have the maximum spread in proportionally correct colors from 0-255.

There's probably some math operation to do this, but I know I paid far too
little attention in math class as a kid.  "When will I ever need to use
this stuff in *real life*", I asked the teacher with a sneer.

If anyone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.

-- 
Nate Hill
nathanielhill_at_gmail.com
http://www.natehill.net
Received on Tue Dec 20 2011 - 11:59:11 EST