sizeof (integral types)

[daver at hcx2.SSD.HARRIS.COM]

>>Considering that C++ is an *EXTENSION* of C (and was written with K&R as
>>active participants), the fact that C++ talks about longs as at least 24 bits
>>is true for C as well.

>C++ is only approximately an extension of C; there are a few incompatibilities.
>Also, C++ is approximately an extension of pre-ANSI C, and there are a number
>of minor discrepancies that Bjarne and crew are trying to sort out, so current
>C++ cannot be considered a reliable guide to ANSI C.

>One should also note that "A is an extension of B" means, roughly speaking,
>"everything true of B is also true of A", not vice-versa.

>From "Computerworld" (4/24/89, p. 31):
 "... A key selling point of C++ is its relationship with the established C
 language.  It includes ANSI-standard C as a subset, as does Objective C, ..."

Perhaps statements like the above cause the confusion.  (B is a subset of A
==> A is an extension of B ?)