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Re: Firefox 2.0.0.7 has a very serious calculation bug


From: "Jimby Sharp" <jimbysharp () gmail com>
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:32:41 +0530

Michal

I don't get the same from C-style double arithmetics. Could you
provide a sample code that you believe should show the same behavior?

On 9/28/07, Michal Zalewski <lcamtuf () dione cc> wrote:
On Fri, 28 Sep 2007, carl hardwick wrote:

javascript:5.2-0.1
Firefox 2.0.0.7 result: 5.1000000000000005 (WRONG!)

This is a proper behavior of IEEE 754 64-bit double float, which, IIRC, is
precisely what ECMA standard mandates.

You will get the same from any C-style 'double' arithmetics.

Internet Explorer 7 result: 5.1 (OK)

They use a marginally higher precision. Now try 5.002-.001 - chances are,
you will get 5.00999...

Neither is a "very serious calculation bug". Javascript does not guarantee
- and nowhere actually delivers - arbitrary GMP-style precision.

/mz

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