Floating point is expected to be the most prevalent
type.  If the array is initialized to be floating 
point then the automatic but not cost-free type
coercion is avoided.



----- Original Message -----
From: Tracy Harms <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Monday, February 5, 2007 6:10 am
Subject: [Jprogramming] e as zero in 1$.sh;a;e

> In the dictionary entry for $. (sparse) the elaboration of 
> function code
> 1 states that if e is elided, e is assumed to be "a floating point 0".
> (The format is  1$.sh;a;e  )
> 
> 
> 
> I do not understand why floating point is specified
> 
> here.  My understanding is that numeric values are
> 
> handled in a manner such that the J user (normally)
> 
> should not put any thought to how a number is
> 
> implemented.  Why does the implementation of zero
> 
> matter here?  If e is explicitly asserted as 0, will
> 
> it be implemented as binary?  What differences may
> 
> occur if e is specified as 0j0?
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