If you're interested in rationals, then you might want to have a look at mxNumber which is part of the eGenix mx Experimental Distribution:
http://www.egenix.com/products/python/mxExperimental/mxNumber/ It provides fast rational operations based on the GNU MP library. On 2008-02-25 07:58, Carl Banks wrote: > On Feb 24, 10:56 pm, Mensanator <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> But that doesn't mean they become less manageable than >> other unlimited precision usages. Did you see my example >> of the polynomial finder using Newton's Forward Differences >> Method? The denominator's certainly don't settle out, neither >> do they become unmanageable. And that's general mathematics. > > No, that's a specific algorithm. That some random algorithm doesn't > blow up the denominators to the point of disk thrashing doesn't mean > they won't generally. > > Try doing numerical integration sometime with rationals, and tell me > how that works out. Try calculating compound interest and storing > results for 1000 customers every month, and compare the size of your > database before and after. It is well possible to limit the denominator before storing it in a database or other external resource using Farey neighbors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farey_sequence#Farey_neighbours mxNumber implements an algorithm for this (not the most efficient one, but it works nicely). -- Marc-Andre Lemburg eGenix.com Professional Python Services directly from the Source (#1, Feb 25 2008) >>> Python/Zope Consulting and Support ... http://www.egenix.com/ >>> mxODBC.Zope.Database.Adapter ... http://zope.egenix.com/ >>> mxODBC, mxDateTime, mxTextTools ... http://python.egenix.com/ ________________________________________________________________________ :::: Try mxODBC.Zope.DA for Windows,Linux,Solaris,MacOSX for free ! :::: eGenix.com Software, Skills and Services GmbH Pastor-Loeh-Str.48 D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany. CEO Dipl.-Math. Marc-Andre Lemburg Registered at Amtsgericht Duesseldorf: HRB 46611 -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
