# Is using a step function to limit the value of a function considered inelegant?

I am a programmer and recently we had some problems with a certain function $f$ that tends to infinity near 10, and we can not have such great values as a result.

Recently there was a collegue trying to tweak the original function to get it close to a fixed number, suppose 10. Although I just suggested using a step function (programming if) to solve it quickly, he said that it could be seen as sloppy or lazy.

Considering that neither of us are mathematicians nor math gurus, is this approach considered negatively by mathematicians?

Edit: Thanks a lot for your responses and sadly I do not recall the exact function, and my collegue is absent, although as soon as he is back I will ask him the formula.

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Why would you possibly care?! – Mariano Suárez-Alvarez Sep 12 '12 at 16:11
You will probably get better information if you describe the function (and its purpose) along with the two different adjustments. – axblount Sep 12 '12 at 16:18