[Coco] printing out floating point numbers...(only peripherally related to coco)

[Aaron Banerjee]

Quite simple. I'm working with numbers which are in a relatively small
range, but need a fine degree of precision.  As others have mentioned,
this is sort of an odd size for a float.  I wasn't looking for a generic
super-float.  Depending on what you're using it for, 8 bit mantissa and
245 bits of precision isn't "absurd" at all.

To everyone except for James, thanks.  You've given me a good place to
start.
                     - Aaron

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 jdaggett at gate.net wrote:

> First off why do you need 245 bits in the mantissa when you limit yourself to only 8 
> bits in the exponent? Do you really need  70+ decimal digit precission when you 
> exponet is limited to 38 places decimal? 
> 
> There is precission and then there is taking precision to nth degree of absurdity. I 
> think 245 bits in the mantissa is fast approaching absurdity with only 8 bits in the 
> exponent.
> 
> just my opinion 
> 
> james