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Groups > comp.lang.python > #73601

Re: python 3.44 float addition bug?

From Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info>
Subject Re: python 3.44 float addition bug?
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
References <XnsA35313E634BA0fraserlonggmailcom34@216.196.109.145> <645be4a7-2e1b-44a4-9c45-9184c6df5518@googlegroups.com>
Date 2014-06-26 02:56 +0000
Message-ID <53ab8bc4$0$11121$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com> (permalink)
Organization Unlimited download news at news.astraweb.com

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On Wed, 25 Jun 2014 14:12:31 -0700, Maciej Dziardziel wrote:

> Floating points values use finite amount of memory, and  cannot
> accurately represent infinite amount of numbers, they are only
> approximations. This is limitation of float type and applies to any
> languages that uses types supported directly by cpu. To deal with it you
> can either use decimal.Decimal type that operates using decimal system
> and saves you from such surprises

That's a myth. decimal.Decimal *is* a floating point value, and is 
subject to *exactly* the same surprises as binary floats, except for one: 
which Decimal, you can guarantee that any decimal string you enter will 
appear exactly the same (up to the limit of the current precision).

For example:

py> x = Decimal(1)/Decimal(23)
py> x
Decimal('0.04347826086956521739130434783')
py> x*23 == 1
True
py> sum( [x]*23 ) == 1  # Surprise!
False

py> (Decimal(19)/Decimal(17))*Decimal(17) == 19  # Surprise!
False



-- 
Steven

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Thread

python 3.44 float addition bug? FraserL <fraser.long+usenet@NOSPAMgmail.com> - 2014-06-20 19:57 -0500
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? FraserL <fraser.long+usenet@gmail.com> - 2014-06-20 20:11 -0500
    Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Gary Herron <gary.herron@islandtraining.com> - 2014-06-20 18:19 -0700
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Gary Herron <gary.herron@islandtraining.com> - 2014-06-20 18:07 -0700
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-06-21 11:33 +1000
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? INADA Naoki <songofacandy@gmail.com> - 2014-06-21 10:06 +0900
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2014-06-21 14:25 +0000
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Ned Deily <nad@acm.org> - 2014-06-21 12:24 -0700
    Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? buck <workitharder@gmail.com> - 2014-06-23 17:55 -0700
      Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-06-24 13:26 +1000
      Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Gregory Ewing <greg.ewing@canterbury.ac.nz> - 2014-06-24 17:30 +1200
      Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2014-06-24 06:34 +0000
  Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Maciej Dziardziel <fiedzia@gmail.com> - 2014-06-25 14:12 -0700
    Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2014-06-26 02:56 +0000
      Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-06-26 13:13 +1000
        Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2014-06-26 04:17 +0000
          Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-06-26 14:41 +1000
      Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Ben Finney <ben@benfinney.id.au> - 2014-06-26 13:39 +1000
        Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Steven D'Aprano <steve@pearwood.info> - 2014-06-26 09:15 +0000
          Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-06-26 19:38 +1000
            Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2014-06-27 02:51 +0000
              Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2014-06-27 13:24 +1000
              Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2014-06-27 10:18 -0600
      Re: python 3.44 float addition bug? Stefan Behnel <stefan_ml@behnel.de> - 2014-06-26 07:53 +0200

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