4 ms·

I'd extend your explanation to the why (do it that way). 8 + -2 = 6 as you would expect. So a subtraction is basically the addition of a negative number and y

• pdpi 3y ago
  In a sense, subtraction and division don’t really exist as full fledged operations on the reals anyway. They’re just convenient notation for additive/multiplicative inverses.
  • tialaramex 3y ago
    The reals are irrelevant to a machine, because Almost All Reals Are Normal you definitely can't do real arithmetic with a machine. Floating point is just the integers wearing a funny hat. Fixed point is a different funny hat. The rationals are two integers in a trenchcoat.
    • hansvm 3y ago
      You can do a meaningful arithmetic with any real you're able to enter into the machine [0], and the tidbit they took the time to share makes sense even in that sort of restricted context. [0] https://blog.acolyer.org/2020/10/02/toward-an-api-for-the-real-numbers/ https://blog.acolyer.org/2020/10/02/toward-an-api-for-the-re...
      • tialaramex 3y ago
        That's actually a really interesting piece of software, thanks for the link!