in reply to Re^3: Largest integer in 64-bit perl
in thread Largest integer in 64-bit perl

I would try to test the OP's problem that predecessor or successor are identical in numerical comparison.

I haven't looked too closely, but I suspect that the fact that the power operator (**) always returns an NV might be causing problems.
You might be better off using the << operator:
D:\>perl -MDevel::Peek -we "Dump (2**62); Dump ((2**62) + 1); Dump ((2 +**62) - 1);" SV = NV(0x1d26f8d3f20) at 0x1d26f8d3f38 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADTMP,NOK,READONLY,PROTECT,pNOK) NV = 4.6116860184273879e+18 SV = NV(0x1d26f8dbb88) at 0x1d26f8dbba0 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADTMP,NOK,READONLY,PROTECT,pNOK) NV = 4.6116860184273879e+18 SV = NV(0x1d26f8d4ac0) at 0x1d26f8d4ad8 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADTMP,NOK,READONLY,PROTECT,pNOK) NV = 4.6116860184273879e+18 D:\>perl -MDevel::Peek -we "Dump (1<<62); Dump ((1<<62) + 1); Dump ((1 +<<62) - 1);" SV = IV(0x132ea044988) at 0x132ea044998 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADTMP,IOK,READONLY,PROTECT,pIOK) IV = 4611686018427387904 SV = IV(0x132ea0449e8) at 0x132ea0449f8 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADTMP,IOK,READONLY,PROTECT,pIOK) IV = 4611686018427387905 SV = IV(0x132ea0442c8) at 0x132ea0442d8 REFCNT = 1 FLAGS = (PADTMP,IOK,READONLY,PROTECT,pIOK) IV = 4611686018427387903
The first one-liner results in 3 identical values; the second one-liner results in 3 different values.
It's all just part of the fun we have when we use the utterly insane perl configuration where IV precision is greater than NV precision ;-)

Cheers,
Rob

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Re^5: Largest integer in 64-bit perl
by LanX (Saint) on May 19, 2025 at 10:01 UTC
    > the power operator (**) always returns an NV

    sure that's why I said we must stay in the "realm of integers" for a proper binary search.

    I'm not sure about the "always" tho

    > You might be better off using the << operator:

    That's the classic approach, but I would choose a "pure" algorithm using + only, to find the point where adding two integers creates a non-integer.

    Cheers Rolf
    (addicted to the Perl Programming Language :)
    see Wikisyntax for the Monastery