4 ms·
Signed infinity is useful for limits, and also for initial values of some algorithms, so missing them seems like a disadvantage. Also, it still has no total or
by Aardwolf 5y ago
Signed infinity is useful for limits, and also for initial values of some algorithms, so missing them seems like a disadvantage.
Also, it still has no total order, so keeps another messy part of IEEE floats
- GolDDranks 5y agoThere's an easy alternative: just use the MAX and MIN values. That's what you would do with integers anyway, in case of initial values. As for limits, if you need to express limits in a datatype for expressing a small subset of rational numbers, you've got the wrong tool for the job.
- GolDDranks 5y ago> Also, it still has no total order This is not true. It is defined to have the exact same ordering, bitwise, as two's complement integers. That means it has total order: the NaN is the most negative, then comes the negative numbers, then zero, and then positive numbers.