RE: FP accuracy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Nelson
> Let's get real about this. The are infinitely many real
> numbers that cannot
> be represented exactly with a finite number of bits--perhaps the most
> commonly encountered: 1/3. Note that decimal can't represent this in a
> finite number of digits either.
In fact, *most* real numbers can't even be expressed using an infinite
number of bits (i.e., ratios of integers), such as sqrt(2)--we call these
irrational. But most of these can't even be expressed using both rationals
and irrationals (those that can are called algebraic)--we call these
transcendentals. The most famous transcendental number is pi. There are
more transcendental numbers than there are algebraic numbers (which include
rationals).
Therefore, Eu only properly represents an infinitesimal amount of the
numberline (even if we only talk about 0 to 1e-300). Rob, please explain
why you left out so many numbers! :P
Matt Lewis
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