Re: BUG #5150: math bug

From: David Fetter <david(at)fetter(dot)org>
To: John R Pierce <pierce(at)hogranch(dot)com>
Cc: PostgreSQL Bugs <pgsql-bugs(at)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: Re: BUG #5150: math bug
Date: 2009-10-31 05:45:21
Message-ID: 20091031054521.GB28990@fetter.org
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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> ;)

Cheers,
David.
--
David Fetter <david(at)fetter(dot)org> http://fetter.org/
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