Re: BUG #5150: math bug

From: Mark Kirkwood <markir(at)paradise(dot)net(dot)nz>
To: David Fetter <david(at)fetter(dot)org>
Cc: John R Pierce <pierce(at)hogranch(dot)com>, PostgreSQL Bugs <pgsql-bugs(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: Re: BUG #5150: math bug
Date: 2009-11-01 07:12:27
Message-ID: 4AED34DB.4040606@paradise.net.nz
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David Fetter wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 08:51:57PM -0700, John R Pierce wrote:
>
>> Tom Lane wrote:
>>
>>> There is special-purpose software out there that can compute
>>> exactly with rational numbers, but you aren't likely to find it
>>> embedded in any general-purpose tools like databases --- the
>>> use-case just isn't wide enough. One reason why not is that it'll
>>> still fall down on irrational numbers.
>>>
>>>
>> <nit>
>>
>> 1/3 is a rational number. however, it is a repeating fraction when
>> expressed in decimal.
>>
>> </nit>
>>
>
> <nit level="2">
> The set of algebraic numbers, of which rational numbers are a proper
> subset, is countable and hence has Lebesgue measure zero on the real
> line.
> </nit> ;)
>
>

LOL - fortunately (going by the bug) he is not trying to compute a
measure (i.e integrate) from a set of 'em.

Mark

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