Richard D. Moores wrote:
def float_to_exact_number_stored_in_computer(f):
"""
Given a float, return the exact number stored in computer.
See
http://docs.python.org/3.1/tutorial/floatingpoint.html#representation-error
"""
from decimal import Decimal
return Decimal.from_float(f)
I've just borrowed from the doc, but that name is too long, isn't it? Please
suggest something shorter but still meaningful.
Thanks,
Dick Moores
As Hugo says, when your entire function consists of a single call to
another one, you can usually simplify it. In this case, something like:
import decimal
float_to_decimal_approximation = decimal.Decimal.from_float
No need to define a new function, all you're doing is giving it a new
name. Actually, I think the existing name is clearer.
As for the name being too long, the real question is what's the purpose
of the function. It certainly doesn't give you an exact representation,
as that cannot be done in general, without changing the defaults in the
decimal module. For example, try 2.0 ** -50 The exact decimal
version of that needs 50 digits, and Python 3.1 docs say it uses 28 by
default..
DaveA
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