Python syntax in Lisp and Scheme

Andrew Dalke adalke at mindspring.com
Tue Oct 7 01:41:52 EDT 2003


Gerrit Holl:
> a = 2
> a = 1 + 1
> a = math.sqrt(4)
> a = int((sys.maxint+1) ** (1/31))
>
> ...all mean the same thing.

Be careful with that.  The first two return the integer 4, the third returns
the floating point number 4.0 and the last returns 1 because 1/31 is
0 (unless you are using true division).  Even if you use 1/31. you'll
get a different value on a 32 bit machine vs. a 64 bit machine.

pedantically yours,

                    Andrew
                    dalke at dalkescientific.com






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