> without strong typing, it has no way to know that we expect it.

I disagree, at least if the operands were integer and the result is between max-float-precision and max-integer-precision (2**53 and 2**64 in our case) you can assume an integer was wanted.

Of course it's not trivial (if ever) to solve this generally for instance for $x=2**0.5 and $y=$x**2 since the square-root of 2 isn't rational.

Or even $x=2/3 and 27**$x == 9 because $x isn't loss-free in binary floats.

> Perhaps there should be an optional warning when it attempts to cast a result greater than 2**53 and less than 2**63 to an integer.

I think this should be part of a (bigger) pragma to address this.

for instance will Perl happily do this

  DB<25> p 27**(2/3)
9
  DB<26> p 27**(2/3) == 9

  DB<27> printf "%.15f", 27**(2/3)
8.999999999999998
  DB<28>

[download]

update

And before the Perl bashing hits in, Python isn't that much better

>>> 27**(2/3)
8.999999999999998
>>> 27**(2/3)==9
False
>>>

[download]

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

In reply to Re^6: Largest integer in 64-bit perl by LanX
in thread Largest integer in 64-bit perl by harangzsolt33

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