[r6rs-discuss] R5.95 questions

From: William D Clinger <will>
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:52:35 -0400

Michael Sperber wrote:
> > Note that fl2 must be a flonum, so it cannot be
> > an exact integer.
>
> Which is why neither the CHANGES file nor the specification says
> "exact".

But does not explain why the specification says
"integer object" instead of the more helpful,
and not much wordier, "inexact integer object".

The wisdom of this move is also open to question.
Inasmuch as the second argument is inexact, its
integer object-ness is likely to be accidental.
The usefulness of inserting discrete points of
definition into a range of inputs for which
flexpt may return meaningless flonums or NaNs
is dubious.

I note in passing that its specification allows
flexpt to return results that have a nonzero
imaginary part. Indeed, the very first sentence
would seem to require that, were it not qualified
by the business about NaNs and meaningless flonums.

Will
Received on Tue Jun 26 2007 - 02:52:35 UTC