J3/06-124 To: J3 From: Michael Ingrassia Subject: Request for Interp: IEEE_SUPPORT_DATATYPE vs. mathematical equivalence Date: 2006 January 30 QUESTION: Does the function IEEE_SUPPORT_DATATYPE (Section 14.8) override the mathematical equivalence rule (Section 7.1.8.3)? For example, could the program PROGRAM MAIN USE, INTRINSIC :: IEEE_ARITHMETIC USE, INTRINSIC :: IEEE_FEATURES X = 2.0 + 2.0 PRINT *, X END be executed as PROGRAM MAIN USE, INTRINSIC :: IEEE_ARITHMETIC USE, INTRINSIC :: IEEE_FEATURES X = 220.0*(1.0/55.0) PRINT *, X END if IEEE_SUPPORT_DATATYPE(X) is .TRUE.? Background: The committee recently ruled that 2.0 + 2.0 must produce the value 4.0 if IEEE_ARITHMETIC is in effect. I agree that if the particular operation the processor implements is addition of 2.0 and 2.0, the result must be 4.0. However, if IEEE_ARITHMETIC does not override the mathematical equivalence rule, the requirement is essentially meaningless, since there is no assurance that the expression in the program is the expression that will be evaluated.