Re: Is infinity equal to infinity?

DWCantrell wrote:
>
> Perhaps a quote from Knuth [_The Art
> of Computer Programming_, 2nd ed., v. 2, p. 593] would be appropriate:
> If oo is being used to suggest overflow, it is incorrect to let
> 1/oo be equal to zero, lest inaccurate results be regarded as true
> answers.


Well, I dare disagree with Knuth here. In my eyes, checking for just
overflow and nothing else (like loss of precision) is just like fencing
off one side of a pit and leaving the others unguarded. If the algorithm
return should not only results but also an account of the results'
precision, it should be written with interval arithmetic which gives a
much more useful definition of equality anyway.


Regards,
Joachim
--

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