J3/04-211

Date:     2004-01-14
To:       J3
From:     Walt Brainerd
Subject:  Clarify "approximation" for real values

Date:
2003-12-04 at 20:24:11

Request number:
Pub-104

Name:
Walt Brainerd

E_mail:
walt@fortran.com

========================================================
Number:

Title: Clarify "approximation" for real values

Submitted by: J3

Status: For Consideration

References:

Basic Functionality: State in one place that the standard recognizes that
(essentially) all real and complex values and computations
involve approximations.

Rationale: In some places we say real computations are approximate
(e.g., SQRT). In other places we do not (e.g., +).

Probably nobody will think that + must be exact, but
why not state it clearly.

It will shorten the standard.

Estimated Impact: This is editorial only.

Detailed Specification: Put the words in the standard once.

Remove all/most of the occurrences of
"processor-dependent approximation".

History: Submitted as Pub-104