... > It is my understanding that RPM does run that test. My main issue is > why does numeric have to be so much larger than the other tests? I have > not heard that explained.
afaict it is not larger. It *does* take more time, but the number of tests is relatively small, or at least compatible with the number of tests which appear, or should appear, in other tests of data types covering a large problem space (e.g. date/time). It does illustrate that BCD-like encodings are expensive, and that machine-supported math is usually a win. If it is a big deal, jump in and widen the internal math operations! - Thomas ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- TIP 1: subscribe and unsubscribe commands go to [EMAIL PROTECTED]