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Re: number dot (with space)

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg99806] Re: number dot (with space)
• From: Szabolcs Horvát <szhorvat at gmail.com>
• Date: Fri, 15 May 2009 04:17:34 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <gugars$ekm$1@smc.vnet.net>

Emin Gahramanov wrote:
> Hi guys,
> sorry for the silly question (I am a Mathematica dummy). I have integrated 
> out an expression, and I do not know how to interpret the term like this:
> (-1. g + r)^4)
> What throws me off is "1. g" (g is a parameter), what is that dot after one
>  and there is also a SPACE after the dot and before "g" symbol. Sometimes I
>  get smth. like "1. r" what is that supposed to mean? If r=2, then how to
>  interpret the latter? Is it 1.2?? Or? Thanks.
> 

It means -1.0*g.  Avoid inexact numbers when doing symbolic 
calculations.  Of course 1*g is just g, but in Mathematica 1.0 means 1 
with a certain precision, not necessarily precisely 1.  Use Rationalize 
to convert floating point numbers to rationals.