Re: "Sloppy Union"? (Union of a list with *nearly* equ
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg42080] Re: "Sloppy Union"? (Union of a list with *nearly* equ
- From: AES/newspost <siegman at stanford.edu>
- Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 02:11:04 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <bcmq9f$ssn$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
In article <bcmq9f$ssn$1 at smc.vnet.net>, Bill Rowe <listuser at earthlink.net> wrote: > No, this won't suffice. N isn't intended to control the output display. More > to the point why would you want to reduce the precision of intermediate > computations? Answers: 1) Look at the heading: To allow "sloppy comparisons" within a sequence of calculations -- e.g.,"Are these two complex roots (probably) the same root of my physical problem?" -- **without** having to stop and think about and program some lengthy precision-reducing procedure **each time you make a comparison**. 2) More generally: When you're doing a series of calculations based on imprecise inputs (e.g., from imprecise physical measurements) and you neither need nor even want more precision than that. -- "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Lord Acton (1834-1902) "Dependence on advertising tends to corrupt. Total dependence on advertising corrupts totally." (today's equivalent)