Re: [Maxima-discuss] float(exp(10000)) works, but float(exp(10000/3)) doesn't

[Raymond T. <toy...@gm...>]

>>>>> "Richard" == Richard Fateman <fa...@be...> writes:

    Richard> On 1/26/2016 1:44 AM, David Scherfgen wrote:
    >> Hello,
    >> 
    >> I'm getting very weird and inconsistent behavior when doing
    >> float(exp(10000)) vs. float(exp(10000/3)) and float(exp(10000.0)).
    >> 
    >> The first one works - the result is promoted to bigfloat.
    Richard> This is a hack, and I suppose previously it overflowed.  float() used to 
    Richard> convert to double-float machine
    Richard> precision.  Someone changed it to upgrade to bigfloat, i.e. make it the 
    Richard> same as bfloat() when needed.

Yes, this is a recent addition. I never really liked it because you
can get a bfloat by using bfloat().

    >> The third one gives an error.
    Richard> I think this one fails because exp(10000.0)  overflows  before float() 
    Richard> sees it.
    Richard> Not a bug?

I agree. It's not a bug because you're explicitly asking for
exp(10000.0).  But perhaps those in favor of returning a bigfloat in
the other cases will see this a a bug too.

--
Ray