Re: Decimal versus binary arithmetic was Re: J4 - presentation/discussion on "Future of the COBOL Standard"

Howard Brazee <howard@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:3****v35t00fnkkoce1rs3cfpsfujsk57hq@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Sat, 5 Apr 2008 10:54:00 -0600, "tlmfru" <lacey@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> >To make correct arithmetic using only binary possible, it seems to me
that
> >ALL numbers must be implicitly scaled to remove the decimal point.  If
that
> >is your meaning, Robert, then you haven't made it clear.  Binary
fractions
> >cannot be represented accurately - period.
>
> Some can.   Some decimal fractions cannot be represented accurately by
> the measurement I believe you are using.

Yes, you're right.  I over-generalized, just a bit, though.    There
aren't
many - only those that are a binary fraction to begin with - 1/2, 1/4,
3/4,
etc.

PL