> Rational numbers always give precise results, they don't introduce rounding errors and they don't require us to acknowledge a “smallest representable unit” T

> Rational numbers always give precise results, they don't introduce rounding errors and they don't require us to acknowledge a “smallest representable unit” This is assertion may be invalid when the problem domain includes either (a) compound interest calculations that require calculating a rational number raised to a rational power, (b) expected value calculations with random variables drawn from a probability distribution such as the normal or exponential that is defined using transcendental functions, (c) any formula involving e, pi or the mathematician's favorite, those three little dots ... For example, the asserted feature of rational arithmetic does nothing for one facing the 6th grade arithmetic problem that introduced us all to the shortcomings of decimal numbers when I went to school: One quart of paint covers 5 square feet; paint costs $2.75 per gallon; how much will it cost to paint a circle 4 yards in diameter?