1/3.
Store that mysql.... ;-) Or what about PI? Or the square root of 10?
Not all reals can be represented as fractions either. Surd-tastic. Whilst
computers are finite state machines such approximations are the most
reasonable compromise between accuracy and performance. Or should that be
practicality and stupidity?
Changing to some super-duper as yet undefined and nebulous system is an
entertaining thought, but impractical. Besides, discrete integer based
models are perfectly valid and require representation in databases.
I believe however that reducing the boundaries between integer and real
might have its real world drawbacks. Seems to me a flexible 'number' format
might be more appropriate. Worrying about number formats is something thats
really only truly important when you use mathematical operations in the
virtual machine. If one couldn't distinguish between the outcome of basic
operations based on its type, then one needs to distinguish between them by
name.
Regards
Dave.
