Zero does not Equal Zero
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg31224] Zero does not Equal Zero
- From: "Ersek, Ted R" <ErsekTR at navair.navy.mil>
- Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 03:12:28 -0400 (EDT)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Hello Group,
I am using Mathematica Version 4.1.0.0 under Windows 98, but I suspect it
makes no difference what platform is used.
The following demonstrates an inconsistency with arbitrary precision
arithmetic. The problem is that the criteria for deciding what numbers are
displayed as zero is different from the criteria for deciding if a number
equals zero.
In[1]:=
x=SetPrecision[1234567890123456789012, 21.35];
y=x-6/5;
{x-y, x-y==0}
Out[3]=
{0., False}
----------
For what it's worth, the next line shows that the precision of (x-y) is
(0.0366) almost zero.
In[4]=
InputForm[x-y]
Out[4]=
1.2`0.0366
-----------
Regards,
Ted Ersek
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