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floaty problem (beginner)

 
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Helen



Joined: 15 Mar 2018
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:40 am    Post subject: floaty problem (beginner) Reply with quote

must be a stupid question but...
i have a variable a = 1.5
i add to it 0.00125
and then a shows in a write as 1.50124999997

what am i doing wrong?

is there a different declaration for fixed floats?
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JohnCampbell



Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 2551
Location: Sydney

PostPosted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

try the following code:
Code:
      real*8 a8
      real*4 a4

      a8 = 1.5
      a8 = a8 + .00125
      write (*,*) 'a8 =',a8

      a4 = 1.5
      a4 = a4 + .00125
      write (*,*) 'a4 =',a4     

      a8 = .00125
      write (*,*) 'a8 =',a8
      a8 = .00125d0
      write (*,*) 'a8 =',a8
      end

The problem is 1.5 = 1.5d0 ( the 8 byte representation of the 2 constants is the same)
but .00125 is not the same as .00125d0
( although .125 is the same as .125d0 )
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Helen



Joined: 15 Mar 2018
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:54 pm    Post subject: fascinating stuff but... Reply with quote

i declared my a as real*4
and all was going well but...
on the 1924th (or so) iteration of adding 0.00125 to 1.5...

when i would expect the value of 3.90255 to go to 3.90380
it actually jumps to 3.90381

this is really quite interesting... any suggestions from my wizards greatly appreciated!
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mecej4



Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 1884

PostPosted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have an interesting adventure ahead of you. Try the following calculation using ftn95 /lgo, then ftn95 /64 /lgo, and on a pocket calculator if you have one:
Code:
program tst
real :: x=4.0, y=3.0
print *,(x/y-1)*y-1
end

After observing and trying to explain the results, please read this article:
https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19957-01/806-3568/ncg_goldberg.html
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LitusSaxonicum



Joined: 23 Aug 2005
Posts: 2388
Location: Yateley, Hants, UK

PostPosted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Things won't get much better with integers, just different. Try this, for example:

Code:
      PROGRAM INT
      INTEGER*1 K
      K = 0
      DO 10 I=1,260
      K = K + 1
      WRITE(*,*) I, K
  10  CONTINUE
      END


Or (for a much longer loop) with INTEGER*2 or INTEGER*4.

Eddie
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Helen



Joined: 15 Mar 2018
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 12:12 pm    Post subject: managed a workaround Reply with quote

Did a more accurate calculation on the iteration (instead of adding to previous, possibly wonky, value, I RE-calculated).

Thanks for this guys!
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davidb



Joined: 17 Jul 2009
Posts: 560
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Managing the propagation of rounding errors is a skill that can be picked up over time. It helps to build up your own library of useful information, books, websites etc.

Here is a good site that considers floating point.

https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19957-01/806-3568/ncg_goldberg.html

In the mid 80s I was fortunate to own a workstation running RISC-OS that was designed to be programmed. It had a C and Fortran 77 compiler. It also had a large 8x8 card as a "floating point co processor". Nowadays this is just built into the chips. However, I still have the manual that came with that card (not the machine or card now sadly) and it contains a lot of useful diagrams that I still consult today.

What a shame proper manuals have disappeared from computer stuff we all purchase. All we get these days is a getting started card with scribbled cartoons.
_________________
Programmer in: Fortran 77/95/2003/2008, C, C++ (& OpenMP), java, Python, Perl
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Helen



Joined: 15 Mar 2018
Posts: 9

PostPosted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:52 pm    Post subject: yes, thanks! Reply with quote

Thanks for this... yes, I'll ride the learning curve like a trooper. Checked out that page (same one given earlier I think... great minds think alike!)
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