Jim, Thank you for responding. You make valid points. On Wed, Oct 25 at 9:50 PM Jim DeLaHunt wrote and cited: >On 2023-10-25 17:00, Bruce McCoy via gnucash-user wrote: > We also assume that an "exactly precise" number has the same precision as the smallest currency unit (SCU). > >I believe that your definition of "exactly precise" >is different from the plain meaning of the words. >The plain meaning is that an "exactly precise" >representation of a number is a representation >which exactly conveys the true numerical value. >Thus, decimal number "0.3" is an exactly precise >representation of the rational number 3/10
Well said. You saying “decimal number "0.3" is an exactly precise representation of the rational number 3/10” is just what I wanted to say. Let me try again. Since SCUs have an infinite number of zeros to the right of the decimal place, they are exactly precise. >but decimal number "0.3333" is not an exactly >precise representation of the rational number 1/3. Quite. Here ww can note a reference to the elegance of GnuCash’s rational number treatment. >GnuCash documentation could be improved… >the most useful contribution is to formally >propose a change... But, a proposed change >based on a misunderstanding will probably not >succeed. We agree both that “the most useful contribution is to formally propose a change” and that “a proposed change based on a misunderstanding will” fail. Submitting these ideas to the gnucash users group for vetting before proposing a formal change was the idea. You and the other members of the gnucash users group have been very helpful in this discussion by explaining how GnuCash works. You have reduced my misunderstandings of GnuCash. You have increased my understanding of GnuCash. Thank you. >why do you hold so fast to the conviction >that the price number which the broker >prints on the statement exactly represents >the numerical value which they used in your >transaction? There are two reasons. First, some newcomers to GnuCash are used to thinking that way and they might find it helpful to be informed that GnuCash may not follow the conventions with which they are accustomed. One way to do this would be to place an explanatory note in the documentation. Second, in “Value-of-the-transaction = Price-per-share * Number-of-shares,” two of the terms are in currencies having SCUs and one term is not. Since the SCUs have an infinite number of zeros to the right of the decimal place, the remaining term can not. Because you have asked, I have responded to you. The feeling of the community at large may be more likely to want to table this discussion. If so, we can do that. Engaging with you has let me become acquainted with a group of informed, gracious, and helpful people. It has been an enjoyable experience. Thank you. Bruce | | Virus-free.www.avast.com | _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user ----- Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
