> On Oct 3, 2011, at 4:41 AM, tlaro...@polynum.com wrote: >> > > But to come back to programming, when calculus is the crux, the more > > common/known even new! programming languages are not great tools, > > and "portability" i.e. proved accuracy of the implementation for a > > wide range of hardware/software is fuzzy. And it's amazing to see > > how one can rapidly face errors even with very basic computations. > > And even with integer arithmetic, not much help is guaranteed by > > languages. > > > Integer & rational arithmetic is guaranteed in Scheme and some other > languages. In an R5RS compliant Scheme implementation you have for > example (/ 5 7) => 5/7. (If only people get over their irrational > fear of prefix syntax they would discover a great little language in > Scheme.) But most prog. languages do not specify minimal required > accuracy on standard floating pt. functions. May be because most > language hackers are not numerical analysts!
i think you've got it there. how do i stuff 5/7 in a 32-bit ethernet register? if you're close to the h/w, it's probablly just confusing to fight it. - erik
