It would be easy enough to set up a framework where all floating-point
inputs were converted to exact rationals, (e.g. try using rat()), but to
intercept all misunderstanding so they don't happen is not possible.
People learn about sin/cos/tan in degrees before they know about radians.
Someone will ask why 22/7 - pi is not zero.
People will try to compute 2^(2^(2^10000000)).
Etc
> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Jay Belanger
> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:54 AM
> To: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: Re: [Maxima] strange behaviour with simple decimals
>
>
> Michel Van den Bergh <michel.vandenbergh at uhasselt.be> writes:
> ...
> > I can't believe I am seeing this discussion once again. You would
> > think that by now people would understand floating point arithmetic.
>
> The issue, as I see it, isn't about understanding floating point
> arithmetic, it about what's good enough for Maxima. If Maxima adheres
> to standards which allow 3*1.4^2 to not quite be 5.88, in other words
> if Maxima can't quite correctly do fifth grade arithmetic, is
> that good
> enough?
>
> Jay
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