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unser-interface problems using Mathematica as a calculator

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg131984] unser-interface problems using Mathematica as a calculator
• From: Alan <alan.isaac at gmail.com>
• Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:05:12 -0500 (EST)
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The example below illustrates why Mathematica's display rules for approximate numbers are very confusing for students. Should this be considered a user-interface bug? If not, why not? In any case, can the default display be changed to something more familiar from spreadsheets and other computing languages?
Thanks,
Alan Isaac

In[217]:= tv = TimeValue[1, 0.04, 3]
tv == 1.124864
tv == 1.12486

Out[217]= 1.12486

Out[218]= True

Out[219]= False

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: unser-interface problems using Mathematica as a calculator
    • From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>
  • Re: unser-interface problems using Mathematica as a calculator
    • From: Bob Hanlon <hanlonr357@gmail.com>