On 28/09/2012 12:56, Oscar Benjamin wrote:
On 19 September 2012 19:27, Andrew Tritt <ajtr...@lbl.gov> wrote:
Hello,
I am new to python, and I was experimenting with the round function, and
came across what appears to be a bug in floating point rounding. I am
guessing there is a valid explanation for it.
When I round the floating points 10.6[0-9]5 to two decimal places, it
rounds as expected for 6 of the 10, but not for the other 4. When I try the
same for 10.7[0-9]5, I experience the same problem, but for 5 of the 10
possibilties, and not for the analogous floats.
Also, python storing the numbers as they are represented at the prompt.
i.e. 10.665 is stored as 10.665, not something like 10.665000001 or
10.66499999999.
Can anyone explain to me what's happening?
It is because Python (like all programming languages I know) represents
floating point numbers in base 2. This is discussed in the python.orgtutorial:
http://docs.python.org/tutorial/floatingpoint.html
Oscar
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The Python round function is itself problematic. The idea of
deprecating it is currently being discussed on Python ideas. This quote
from Calvin Spealman is typical "Also, I'd be completely in support of
dropping round() and agree it gets misused
and leads to too much confusion. We should promote the right ways, and
sometimes to show the right path you need to lock another door and throw
away the key.".
--
Cheers.
Mark Lawrence.
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