Documentation Index
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Interval Calculations in EasyAF
The EasyAF library provides a powerful and flexible system for handling time-based calculations through its Interval class hierarchy. This system enables you to work with frequencies, rates, and monetary amounts across different time periods with automatic conversion capabilities.
Core Concepts
Base Interval Class
The foundation of the system is the Interval<T> class, which represents frequency - how often something occurs over time. The key insight is that an interval represents “time per occurrence,” not “occurrences per time.”
// Example: Making widgets
// If it takes 1.5 hours to make 1 widget, how many widgets per day?
var widgetInterval = new Interval<double>(1.5, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal widgetsPerDay = widgetInterval.PerDay(); // 16 widgets (24 hours ÷ 1.5 hours)
Key Properties
- Value: Always represents a time duration (e.g., 1.5 hours, 3 days, 2 weeks)
- Type: The time unit for the Value (Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, Years)
Method Types
The interval classes provide two distinct types of calculation methods:
- *Per methods (inherited)**: Calculate interval frequency - how many intervals fit in a time period
- Specialized rate methods: Calculate total amounts for derived classes (money, ratios, percentages)
Interval Types
1. Base Interval Class
Calculates pure frequency - how many intervals occur within different time periods.
// Widget production: 1 widget every 1.5 hours
var productionInterval = new Interval<double>(1.5, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal widgetsPerHour = productionInterval.PerHour(); // 0.67 widgets
decimal widgetsPerDay = productionInterval.PerDay(); // 16 widgets
decimal widgetsPerWeek = productionInterval.PerWeek(); // 112 widgets
decimal widgetsPerMonth = productionInterval.PerMonth(); // 486.67 widgets
decimal widgetsPerYear = productionInterval.PerYear(); // 5840 widgets
2. MoneyInterval Class
Represents financial amounts that occur at regular intervals. Unlike other derived classes, MoneyInterval overrides the base methods to directly return monetary amounts.
// Salary: $100 every 1.5 hours
var salaryInterval = new MoneyInterval<double>(100m, 1.5, IntervalType.Hours);
// These return dollar amounts directly
decimal dollarsPerHour = salaryInterval.PerHour(); // $66.67
decimal dollarsPerDay = salaryInterval.PerDay(); // $1600.00
decimal dollarsPerWeek = salaryInterval.PerWeek(); // $11,200.00
decimal dollarsPerMonth = salaryInterval.PerMonth(); // $48,666.67
decimal dollarsPerYear = salaryInterval.PerYear(); // $584,000.00
MoneyInterval ToString Methods
var salary = new MoneyInterval<double>(75000m, 1, IntervalType.Years);
string display1 = salary.ToString(); // "$75,000.00 / 1 year"
string display2 = salary.ToString(0); // "$75,000 / 1 year"
string display3 = salary.ToString(2); // "$75,000.00 / 1 year"
3. RatioInterval Class
Combines base interval calculations with ratio multiplication. Provides both inherited frequency methods and new ratio calculation methods.
// Conversion rate: 70% success every 2 weeks
var conversionInterval = new RatioInterval<double>(0.70m, 2, IntervalType.Weeks);
// Frequency methods (inherited) - how many 2-week periods?
decimal periodsPerMonth = conversionInterval.PerMonth(); // 2.17 periods
decimal periodsPerYear = conversionInterval.PerYear(); // 26 periods
// Ratio methods - total conversion amounts
decimal ratioPerWeek = conversionInterval.RatioPerWeek(); // 0.35 (0.70 × 0.5)
decimal ratioPerMonth = conversionInterval.RatioPerMonth(); // 1.52 (0.70 × 2.17)
decimal ratioPerYear = conversionInterval.RatioPerYear(); // 18.2 (0.70 × 26)
RatioInterval Use Cases
// Performance metrics: 95% efficiency every 8 hours
var efficiencyInterval = new RatioInterval<double>(0.95m, 8, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal efficiencyPerDay = efficiencyInterval.RatioPerDay(); // 2.85 (0.95 × 3)
// Quality metrics: 99.5% success rate every day
var qualityInterval = new RatioInterval<double>(0.995m, 1, IntervalType.Days);
decimal qualityPerWeek = qualityInterval.RatioPerWeek(); // 6.965 (0.995 × 7)
4. PercentageInterval Class
Similar to RatioInterval but designed specifically for percentage-based calculations. Uses Rate property and provides RatePer* methods.
// Interest rate: 2.5% every quarter (3 months)
var interestInterval = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.025m, 3, IntervalType.Months);
// Frequency methods (inherited) - how many quarters?
decimal quartersPerYear = interestInterval.PerYear(); // 4 quarters
// Rate methods - total interest percentages
decimal ratePerMonth = interestInterval.RatePerMonth(); // 0.0083 (0.025 × 0.33)
decimal ratePerYear = interestInterval.RatePerYear(); // 0.10 (0.025 × 4)
PercentageInterval Use Cases
// Growth rate: 5% growth every month
var growthInterval = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.05m, 1, IntervalType.Months);
decimal annualGrowth = growthInterval.RatePerYear(); // 0.60 (0.05 × 12)
// Discount rate: 10% discount every week
var discountInterval = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.10m, 1, IntervalType.Weeks);
decimal monthlyDiscount = discountInterval.RatePerMonth(); // 0.434 (0.10 × 4.34)
// Error rate: 0.1% error rate every hour
var errorInterval = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.001m, 1, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal dailyErrorRate = errorInterval.RatePerDay(); // 0.024 (0.001 × 24)
Advanced Examples
Complex Financial Scenarios
// Freelance work: $150 every 2.5 hours
var freelanceWork = new MoneyInterval<double>(150m, 2.5, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal hourlyRate = freelanceWork.PerHour(); // $60.00
decimal dailyEarnings = freelanceWork.PerDay(); // $1,440.00 (24 ÷ 2.5 × $150)
decimal weeklyEarnings = freelanceWork.PerWeek(); // $10,080.00
decimal monthlyEarnings = freelanceWork.PerMonth(); // $43,733.33
decimal annualEarnings = freelanceWork.PerYear(); // $524,800.00
// NEW: Calculate earnings for specific work hours
decimal earnings8Hours = freelanceWork.PerDay(8); // $11,520.00 (for 8 hours of work)
decimal earnings40Hours = freelanceWork.PerWeek(40); // $403,200.00 (for 40 hours of work)
Quantity-Based Calculations
The new overloaded methods allow you to directly calculate results for specific quantities:
// Widget production: 1 widget every 1.5 hours
var production = new Interval<double>(1.5, IntervalType.Hours);
// Traditional calculation
decimal widgetsPerHour = production.PerHour(); // 0.67 widgets
decimal widgetsFrom100Materials = widgetsPerHour * 100; // 66.67 widgets
// NEW: Direct calculation with quantity
decimal totalWidgetsPerHour = production.PerHour(100); // 66.67 widgets (direct)
decimal totalWidgetsPerDay = production.PerDay(100); // 1,600 widgets
Lead Conversion with Customer Quantities
// Sales conversion: 70% conversion rate every month
var conversion = new RatioInterval<double>(0.70m, 1, IntervalType.Months);
// Traditional calculation
decimal conversionRate = conversion.RatioPerMonth(); // 0.70
decimal conversionsFrom30 = conversionRate * 30; // 21 customers
// NEW: Direct calculation with customer quantity
decimal totalConversions = conversion.RatioPerMonth(30); // 21 customers (direct)
decimal weeklyConversions = conversion.RatioPerWeek(30); // ~4.88 customers
decimal dailyConversions = conversion.RatioPerDay(30); // ~0.69 customers
Interest Calculations with Principal Amounts
// Interest rate: 2.5% every quarter (3 months)
var interest = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.025m, 3, IntervalType.Months);
// Traditional calculation
decimal quarterlyRate = interest.RatePerYear(); // 0.10 (10% annually)
decimal interestOn50k = quarterlyRate * 50000; // $5,000
// NEW: Direct calculation with principal amount
decimal annualInterest = interest.RatePerYear(50000); // $5,000 (direct)
decimal monthlyInterest = interest.RatePerMonth(50000); // ~$416.67
decimal dailyInterest = interest.RatePerDay(50000); // ~$13.70
// Sales conversion: 35% conversion rate every 3 days
var salesConversion = new RatioInterval<double>(0.35m, 3, IntervalType.Days);
// How many 3-day periods per week?
decimal periodsPerWeek = salesConversion.PerWeek(); // 2.33 periods
// Total conversion rate per week?
decimal weeklyConversion = salesConversion.RatioPerWeek(); // 0.817 (0.35 × 2.33)
// Monthly conversion totals
decimal monthlyConversion = salesConversion.RatioPerMonth(); // 3.62 (0.35 × 10.33)
Interest and Growth Calculations
// Compound interest: 1.2% every month
var monthlyInterest = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.012m, 1, IntervalType.Months);
decimal quarterlyRate = monthlyInterest.RatePerMonth() * 3; // 0.036 (3.6% per quarter)
decimal annualRate = monthlyInterest.RatePerYear(); // 0.144 (14.4% per year)
// Investment growth: 8% every quarter
var quarterlyGrowth = new PercentageInterval<double>(0.08m, 3, IntervalType.Months);
decimal annualGrowthRate = quarterlyGrowth.RatePerYear(); // 0.32 (32% per year)
Method Reference
Base Interval Methods (All Classes)
These methods calculate frequency - how many intervals fit within the specified time period:
PerMinute() - Intervals per minutePerHour() - Intervals per hourPerDay() - Intervals per dayPerWeek() - Intervals per weekPerMonth() - Intervals per monthPerYear() - Intervals per year
NEW: Quantity-based overloads:
PerMinute(decimal quantity) - Total output per minute for given quantityPerHour(decimal quantity) - Total output per hour for given quantityPerDay(decimal quantity) - Total output per day for given quantityPerWeek(decimal quantity) - Total output per week for given quantityPerMonth(decimal quantity) - Total output per month for given quantityPerYear(decimal quantity) - Total output per year for given quantity
MoneyInterval Methods
MoneyInterval overrides the base methods to return monetary amounts:
PerMinute() - Dollars per minutePerHour() - Dollars per hourPerDay() - Dollars per dayPerWeek() - Dollars per weekPerMonth() - Dollars per monthPerYear() - Dollars per year
NEW: Quantity-based overloads (e.g., hours worked, units sold):
PerMinute(decimal quantity) - Total earnings per minute for given quantityPerHour(decimal quantity) - Total earnings per hour for given quantityPerDay(decimal quantity) - Total earnings per day for given quantityPerWeek(decimal quantity) - Total earnings per week for given quantityPerMonth(decimal quantity) - Total earnings per month for given quantityPerYear(decimal quantity) - Total earnings per year for given quantity
RatioInterval Methods
RatioInterval provides both inherited frequency methods and new ratio methods:
Frequency methods (inherited):
PerMinute(), PerHour(), PerDay(), etc. - Number of intervals per time periodPerMinute(decimal quantity), PerHour(decimal quantity), etc. - Total output for given quantity
Ratio methods:
RatioPerMinute() - Total ratio per minute (intervals × ratio)RatioPerHour() - Total ratio per hourRatioPerDay() - Total ratio per dayRatioPerWeek() - Total ratio per weekRatioPerMonth() - Total ratio per monthRatioPerYear() - Total ratio per year
NEW: Quantity-based ratio overloads:
RatioPerMinute(decimal quantity) - Total ratio applied to quantity per minuteRatioPerHour(decimal quantity) - Total ratio applied to quantity per hourRatioPerDay(decimal quantity) - Total ratio applied to quantity per dayRatioPerWeek(decimal quantity) - Total ratio applied to quantity per weekRatioPerMonth(decimal quantity) - Total ratio applied to quantity per monthRatioPerYear(decimal quantity) - Total ratio applied to quantity per year
PercentageInterval Methods
PercentageInterval provides both inherited frequency methods and new rate methods:
Frequency methods (inherited):
PerMinute(), PerHour(), PerDay(), etc. - Number of intervals per time periodPerMinute(decimal quantity), PerHour(decimal quantity), etc. - Total output for given quantity
Rate methods:
RatePerMinute() - Total rate per minute (intervals × rate)RatePerHour() - Total rate per hourRatePerDay() - Total rate per dayRatePerWeek() - Total rate per weekRatePerMonth() - Total rate per monthRatePerYear() - Total rate per year
NEW: Principal-based rate overloads:
RatePerMinute(decimal principal) - Total rate applied to principal per minuteRatePerHour(decimal principal) - Total rate applied to principal per hourRatePerDay(decimal principal) - Total rate applied to principal per dayRatePerWeek(decimal principal) - Total rate applied to principal per weekRatePerMonth(decimal principal) - Total rate applied to principal per monthRatePerYear(decimal principal) - Total rate applied to principal per year
Time Conversion Constants
The system uses these conversion factors for calculations:
- Minutes per hour: 60
- Hours per day: 24
- Days per week: 7
- Days per month: 30.4375 (365.25 ÷ 12)
- Days per year: 365.25
- Weeks per month: 4.345 (30.4375 ÷ 7)
- Months per year: 12
Best Practices
1. Choose the Right Class
- Use
Interval<T> for pure frequency calculations
- Use
MoneyInterval<T> for financial amounts where you want direct monetary results
- Use
RatioInterval<T> for general ratio/rate calculations where you need both frequency and rate methods
- Use
PercentageInterval<T> for percentage-based calculations
2. Understanding Method Behavior
// MoneyInterval overrides base methods
var salary = new MoneyInterval<double>(50m, 1, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal dollarsPerHour = salary.PerHour(); // $50.00 (direct monetary amount)
// RatioInterval keeps base methods and adds new ones
var conversion = new RatioInterval<double>(0.5m, 1, IntervalType.Hours);
decimal intervalsPerHour = conversion.PerHour(); // 1.0 (frequency)
decimal ratioPerHour = conversion.RatioPerHour(); // 0.5 (rate calculation)
3. Precision Considerations
All calculations return decimal values for maximum precision in financial and rate calculations. Be aware that some conversions may result in repeating decimals.
4. Validation
Always validate input values:
// Ensure positive values for time durations
if (Convert.ToDecimal(value) <= 0)
throw new ArgumentException("Interval value must be positive");
// Validate reasonable ranges for rates and percentages
if (rate < 0 || rate > 1)
throw new ArgumentException("Rate should be between 0 and 1");
