[ernst_klim]

> In both SML and OCaml writing a function that's polymorphic over numeric types is a huge pain in the ass, so I'm not sure it's a good choice for numeric programming.

What? In numeric programming we usually want the opposite, to write a function for specific type, and to make it run fast.

Also, in OCaml you can simply make your computation a parametric module of some algebraic structure, something like

    module type Ring = sig
       type t
       val zero : t
       val one : t
       val (+) : t -> t -> t
       ...
    end

    module Numeric_staff (N : Ring) = struct
       ...

And have a completely static numeric computation without any dynamic dispatch. That's resembling C++'s templates.

You also can use classes if you want dynamic dispatch

    let (+) x y = x#add y