Math irregularity ... is this normal?

[Dave Reed]

Learning Python is based on python 1.5 which only prints0.4; as
someone else pointed out, somewhere in Python 2.x this behavior
changed:

$ python1.5
Python 1.5.2 (#1, Apr  3 2002, 18:16:26)  [GCC 2.96 20000731 (Red Hat Linux 7.2 2 on linux-i386
Copyright 1991-1995 Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam
>>> 2/5.0
0.4

$ python2.2
Python 2.2.1 (#1, May  7 2002, 17:07:14) 
[GCC 2.96 20000731 (Red Hat Linux 7.3 2.96-110)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> 2/5.0
0.40000000000000002

Dave


> From: Some One Else <nospam at any.time>
> 
> Thank you Richard & Emile for your speedy responses!
> 
> Still strange that a great book like LP showed a clean calculation ...
> 
> Thanks!
> -s.o.e.
> 
> Richard Jones wrote:
> 
> > On Fri, 5 Jul 2002 10:10 am, Some One Else wrote:
> >> Hello!
> >>
> >> I just compiled and installed Python 2.2.1 on Linux-Mandrake 8.0.  When I
> >>
> >> do the following:
> >> >>> 2/5.0
> >>
> >> 0.40000000000000002
> >>
> >> In  'Learning Python', a similar example says I should get the more
> >> logical
> >> answer of 0.4.  Did I install something wrong? I can see where this could
> >> result in creeping math errors.
> > 
> > Yes, this is normal :)
> > 
> >    http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/faqw.py?req=show&file=faq04.098.htp
> > 
> > 
> >      Richard
> 
> -- 
> 
>