> If the smallest double value held -Double.MAX_VALUE what would the constant > holding the smallest possible double value would be called - > Double.POSITIVE_SMALLEST_VALUE ?
Frankly I have no need for such constant, what I often DO need to know, is the lowest value I can represent within the type. Most would expect the concept of "min" and "max" to be independent of internal representation of sign, fraction and exponent. An implementation of Comparable<Temperature> should revolve around less-than, equals and greater-than; assuming Double.MIN_VALUE would be well below absolute zero (a mere -273.15 celcius). Since Double has MIN_EXPONENT and MAX_EXPONENT, it would make sense if the current MIN_VALUE and MAX_VALUE had been named MIN_FRACTION and MAX_FRACTION instead. In Java and JavaScript, in order to get the minimum non-infinite value, you thus have to use -Double.MIN_VALUE (possibly -Double.MIN_VALUE+1, not sure). > Do you suggest that Double.MAX_VALUE hold > infinity ? Nope, there's already a Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY - there's a difference between infinity and the largest number you can represent. By definition, the former will always be greater than the latter. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
