RE: [Python-Dev] Comparing heterogeneous types
If "a <= b" is to mean we convert a and b to either float or long depending on their magnitude, would it make any sense at all if other operators like "a + b" would do the same, to maximize precision?
IMHO, probably not. We are NOT suggesting that "a <= b" mean we convert a and b to float or long depending on magnitude, we are suggesting that is just means to compare the values... and that if one value is float than it should be interpreted as if it had the precise value it represents rather than some range of values. Sure, we talked about converting things, but that was an *implementation* detail. I suspect that the reason Guido prefers "a + b" to always return a float when one is a float and the other is a long is because of his (recently noted in another thread) preference for operations to be consistent in what type they return. Of course, it COULD be done more accurately using your approach. The only good reason I can come up with for NOT doing so is to have the rule for what type results from arithmatic operations on mixed types be a simple one. -- Michael Chermside This email may contain confidential or privileged information. If you believe you have received the message in error, please notify the sender and delete the message without copying or disclosing it.
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Chermside, Michael