Feature suggestion: sum() ought to use a compensated summation algorithm

Robert Kern robert.kern at gmail.com
Mon May 5 13:21:49 EDT 2008


Gabriel Genellina wrote:
> Python doesn't require __add__ to be associative, so this should not be used as a general sum replacement. But if you know that you're adding floating point numbers you can use whatever algorithm best fits you. Or use numpy arrays; I think they implement Kahan summation or a similar algorithm.

No, we do a straightforward sum, too. Less magic in the default case.

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma
  that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had
  an underlying truth."
   -- Umberto Eco




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