3 ms·

How does a computer distinguish an irrational number from a good, (necessarily rational) floating-point approximation of one?

• mjcohenw 14y ago
  The algorithm only works with points with integer coordinates, so the slope is always rational.
  • FredBrach 14y ago
    I think you have the last words because line drawing algorithms become irrelevant if you use a Floating Point Unit. just: { x++ and y+=slope } or { y++ and x+= 1./slope } Then slopes are always rational in line drawing algorithms.
    • ralph 14y ago
      If y and slope are floating point in the first block then might not y end at other than the desired endpoint because of accumulative error?
• deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]