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On Thursday 09 August 2007 12:06:31 pm Luis Parravicini wrote:
> Hello
> 
> I'm reading Java class files using ruby and found some problems when
> handling float values. The numbers are stored using IEEE 754 format.
> After several hours trying and thinking I might be using unpack the
> wrong way, I've wrote the following code which packs a Float and then
> immediately unpacks it. And the result is different from the original
> value.

Yes, small differences are common with floats. The best way to compare them
is with something like that demonstrated in: 
http://www.cygnus-software.com/papers/comparingfloats/Comparing%20floating%20point%20numbers.htm#_Toc135149455

> ------------
> a = 0.1234567
> b = [a].pack('g').unpack('g')[0]
> 
> puts "#{a} =? #{b} => #{a == b}"
> ------------
> 
> outputs:
> 
> 0.1234567 =? 0.123456701636314 => false
> 
> I came accross this doc, which states that in Perl this happens too
> (http://perldoc.perl.org/functions/pack.html) "Note that Perl uses
> doubles internally for all numeric calculation, and converting from
> double into float and thence back to double again will lose precision
> (i.e., unpack("f", pack("f", $foo)) will not in general equal $foo)."
> Maybe Ruby is doing the same Perl does?

Ruby uses doubles internally for floats as well. Loss of precision is
common, but the above link should work well for you.

> Any help will be appreciated
> 
> Thanks

No problem, glad to (try to) help.

-- 
Konrad Meyer <konrad / tylerc.org> http://konrad.sobertillnoon.com/

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