This works for me as an elegant solution. I still want an instructions append about how Vim’s integer handling affected this exercise. I’m thinking a brief overview (just two or three sentences) and then possibly a link or a reference to the built-in docs for more information.
This entire problem works fine in integers, in (64-bit) vim script, up to square 63
This is true if you assume that no one is using a 32-bit build of vim. Most likely that is the case, but I am not sure.
this terrible deal…
According to the data on the wheat-growers’ website, the entire annual output of the United States would be enough to cover 51 squares (which must be very big ones).
I talked to @kotp, and we’d like to test the stringified grain count from total. That’ll let the students see some of the limitations of Vim script while playing to its strengths with text editing. Reducing the number of squares might otherwise obscure what’s happening.