[gambit-list] (* n 1.0) works as an exact->inexact for all integer n:s except for 0, is that intended?

Bradley Lucier lucier at math.purdue.edu
Fri Mar 7 10:46:23 EST 2014


On 03/07/2014 10:11 AM, Mikael wrote:
> Why this result of (haxor-exact->inexact 0), just curious, does the
> RNRS dictate this?

No.  But it allows it.

The explanation starts with: exact zero times any exact number is exact 0.

So if 1. (inexact 1) is the result of some computation X that returns a
number with some uncertainty, the uncertainty doesn't matter---if X is
changed to compute the result exactly, then exact 0 times that exact
result will be exact 0, no matter what the result is.

Brad



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