[Python-Dev] FP vs. tutorial
Greg Ward
gward@python.net
Tue, 22 May 2001 09:41:57 -0400
On 21 May 2001, Tim Peters said:
> + Happy to add text explaining the existence of surprises, and
> providing a URL. Do the floating-point morons <wink> on Python-Dev
> find this one comprehensible?:
>
> http://www.lahey.com/float.htm
I found this article more useful, interesting, and informative than
whatever I learned about binary floating-point in my academic years.
Good link, Tim. Two catches:
* I can just barely follow the FORTRAN examples; I very much doubt
the average Python newbie would have any more luck than me
* I tried several of the FORTRAN examples in Python, and did not
witness any of the gotchas they are meant to illustrate. Possibly
it's just single-precision vs. double-precision difference, but
Python 2.1 under Linux 2.2 on an Athlon compiled with gcc 2.95.2
doesn't demonstrate the same gotchas as that article does.
Greg
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