On 16/03/2022 09:56, Raffaello Giulietti wrote:
"Computer scientists of the world, unite!
Let's get rid of binary floating-point arithmetic in Java, after 27
years of honorable service!
Let's adopt decimal floating-point arithmetic, where 1 / 3 + 1 / 3 is
still different from 2 / 3, but who cares? At least we have 0.1 * 0.1 =
0.01, as Mathematics commands!"
Just kidding...
More seriously, let's stop this useless discussion.
Raffaello, the problem initially apparent here is that the person
posting these rants is ignorant of some very straightforward knowledge
about numbers and numeric representation, both mathematical and via
fixed or floating point approximation. Surprising, perhaps in someone
who claims to be a programmer, since it does not even require degree
level study in mathematics to acquire such knowledge. A competent
amateur or a degree student in a science or engineering field can easily
learn what is at stake and note the misconceptions the rants are based on.
However, on top of basic ignorance, it takes real wilfulness and
stupidity -- not to mention a certain measure of narcissism -- for
someone: to suggest that the various people, like yourself, who clearly
do understand the relevant mathematical facts and have replied at length
to explain those misconceptions, cannot know what they are talking
about; and further to demand that some higher authority turn up as an
act of duty, like a latter-day 8th cavalry, to sanction their incoherent
proposals.
Best not to feed someone like this; trolls are greedy beasts and grow to
disproportionate size the more you feed them.
regards,
Andrew Dinn
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