diff --git a/cpp/Testable.h b/cpp/Testable.h
index 7a0ce98b3..d69021b92 100644
--- a/cpp/Testable.h
+++ b/cpp/Testable.h
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
+
 namespace gtsam {
 
   /**
@@ -49,4 +51,21 @@ namespace gtsam {
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Template to create a binary predicate
+	 */
+	template<class V>
+	bool equals(const V& expected, const V& actual, double tol = 1e-9) {
+		return (actual.equals(expected, tol));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Binary predicate on shared pointers
+	 */
+	template<class V>
+	bool equals_star(const boost::shared_ptr<V>& expected,
+			const boost::shared_ptr<V>& actual, double tol = 1e-9) {
+		return (actual->equals(*expected, tol));
+	}
+
 } // gtsam