Subject: Re: Lisp Programmers in X Months From: Erik Naggum <erik@naggum.net> Date: Tue, 09 Apr 2002 08:42:39 GMT Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp Message-ID: <3227330576163731@naggum.net> * Bruce Hoult <bruce@hoult.org> | There are no errors or rounding techniques needed. Integer arithmetic | using IEEE FP is exact. What nonsense! You have only so many bits of precision. When a result (eventually) needs more than that, instead of losing the most significant bits, as in C-style "integer" arithmetic, you lose the least significant bits, which generally goes undetected. | Financial arithmetic in the real world is not defined using rationals. | It is defined using decimal numbers with a fixed number of decimal | places. Which is a rational. /// -- In a fight against something, the fight has value, victory has none. In a fight for something, the fight is a loss, victory merely relief. Post with compassion: http://home.chello.no/~xyzzy/kitten.jpg