4 ms·
No, it is problem for any base. For example decimal system can represent 1/5,1/4, 1/8 and 1/2 properly. But, what about 1/3, 1/7, 1/6, 1/9 as decimal numbers wi
by rottc0dd 5y ago
No, it is problem for any base.
For example decimal system can represent 1/5,1/4, 1/8 and 1/2 properly. But, what about 1/3, 1/7, 1/6, 1/9 as decimal numbers with finite number of digits.
This will be a problem for any base representation when it has to be boxed in finite number of digits or memory.
One good thing is decimal is widely used format, so it is good to go with that for representing stuff. But, it is more of an accidental advantage that decimal has. Nothing more.
- rottc0dd 5y agoDid not read the whole parent comment and my message is redundant. But, yes, objectively decimal can represent more numbers (the numbers that are composed of 1/2 and 1/5). I think there are arguments to use decimal as representation is there, (where I originally came to know about this problem) [1]. [1] - https://www.crockford.com/dec64.html https://www.crockford.com/dec64.html
- rottc0dd 5y agoDiscussion on hn about this : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16513717 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16513717