def METHOD_NAME(delta, first, numchars):
    if first:
        delta //= 700
    else:
        delta //= 2
    delta += delta // numchars
    # ((base - tmin) * tmax) // 2 == 455
    divisions = 0
    while delta > 455:
        delta = delta // 35 # base - tmin
        divisions += 36
    bias = divisions + (36 * delta // (delta + 38))
    return bias