Xref: utzoo comp.lang.misc:3512 comp.arch:11505 Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc,comp.arch Path: utzoo!henry From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) Subject: Re: Fast conversions, another urban myth? Message-ID: <1989Sep25.184425.20936@utzoo.uucp> Organization: U of Toronto Zoology References: <832@dms.UUCP> <688@UALTAVM.BITNET> <9dAz02zs58y201@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com> <27935@winchester.mips.COM> <136@bbxsda.UUCP> <1989Sep22.201906.10618@utzoo.uucp> <164@bbxsda.UUCP> Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 18:44:25 GMT In article <164@bbxsda.UUCP> scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker) writes: >>Can you explain why binary integer arithmetic is less accurate than >>decimal integer arithmetic for your applications? > >I was refering to decimal floating point as opposed to binary floating >point. Integers never entered into the discussion at all... Decimal *floating* point? For money? Are you sure you don't mean decimal *fixed* point? (That is, integers plus a bit of compile-time bookkeeping for decimal-point positions.) If you're thinking of COBOL arithmetic, that's definitely fixed-point. -- "Where is D.D. Harriman now, | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology when we really *need* him?" | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu