These numbers (ie: strings) may come from anywhere such as a database, a spread sheet etc What is the best way to clean them, add them, multiply them with confidence? :)

Your problem is artificial because you could never get values in the form you show other than by hardcoding them in the source code:

C:\test>perl -E"my $a = 000.76; my $b = 4; my $c = $a * $b; say $c;"
304

[download]

If they had come from an external source, then they would be actual strings, and be handled correctly:

C:\test>perl -E"my $a = '000.76'; my $b = 4; my $c = $a * $b; say $c;"
3.04

[download]

I'm not actually sure what is happening in the first case, though I suspect it has something to do with so-called "Version strings" (aka. v-strings) (maybe in combination with octal? And possibly a bug?), but the situation only arises with values hard-coded into the source, not when read from external sources.

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

The start of some sanity?

In reply to Re: Perl with precision by BrowserUk
in thread Perl with precision by AlienSpaces

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