P
PerlFAQ Server
This is an excerpt from the latest version perlfaq4.pod, which
comes with the standard Perl distribution. These postings aim to
reduce the number of repeated questions as well as allow the community
to review and update the answers. The latest version of the complete
perlfaq is at http://faq.perl.org .
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4.2: Why is int() broken?
Your "int()" is most probably working just fine. It's the numbers that
aren't quite what you think.
First, see the answer to "Why am I getting long decimals (eg,
19.9499999999999) instead of the numbers I should be getting (eg,
19.95)?".
For example, this
print int(0.6/0.2-2), "\n";
will in most computers print 0, not 1, because even such simple numbers
as 0.6 and 0.2 cannot be presented exactly by floating-point numbers.
What you think in the above as 'three' is really more like
2.9999999999999995559.
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The perlfaq-workers, a group of volunteers, maintain the perlfaq. They
are not necessarily experts in every domain where Perl might show up,
so please include as much information as possible and relevant in any
corrections. The perlfaq-workers also don't have access to every
operating system or platform, so please include relevant details for
corrections to examples that do not work on particular platforms.
Working code is greatly appreciated.
If you'd like to help maintain the perlfaq, see the details in
perlfaq.pod.
comes with the standard Perl distribution. These postings aim to
reduce the number of repeated questions as well as allow the community
to review and update the answers. The latest version of the complete
perlfaq is at http://faq.perl.org .
--------------------------------------------------------------------
4.2: Why is int() broken?
Your "int()" is most probably working just fine. It's the numbers that
aren't quite what you think.
First, see the answer to "Why am I getting long decimals (eg,
19.9499999999999) instead of the numbers I should be getting (eg,
19.95)?".
For example, this
print int(0.6/0.2-2), "\n";
will in most computers print 0, not 1, because even such simple numbers
as 0.6 and 0.2 cannot be presented exactly by floating-point numbers.
What you think in the above as 'three' is really more like
2.9999999999999995559.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The perlfaq-workers, a group of volunteers, maintain the perlfaq. They
are not necessarily experts in every domain where Perl might show up,
so please include as much information as possible and relevant in any
corrections. The perlfaq-workers also don't have access to every
operating system or platform, so please include relevant details for
corrections to examples that do not work on particular platforms.
Working code is greatly appreciated.
If you'd like to help maintain the perlfaq, see the details in
perlfaq.pod.