[plt-scheme] fractions and decimals
Wonder if broadly adopting the convention that decimals terminated with a
zero (0), would be interpreted as an exact number, otherwise considered
inexact, would help unify the two worlds; (little fancier would be to
interpret "..." as an exact repeating input pattern, although not sure how
to reliably convert it into an exact fractional internal representation.
(equal? 0.125 1/8) => #f ; inexact to the specified decimal precision.
(equal? 0.1250 1/8) => #t ; exact to the specified decimal precision.
(equal? 0.3... 1/3) => #t ; exact to the specified decimal precision.
Which could be made consistent with output formatting preferences,
Such that if decimal outputs are specified as being preferred:
0.125 => 0.125 ; inexact to the specified decimal precision.
1/8 => 0.1250 ; exact to the specified decimal precision.
1/3 => 0.3... ; exact to the specified decimal precision.
Or conversely, if fractional output were perfered:
0.125 => 0.125 ; inexact to the specified decimal precision.
0.1250 => 1/8 ; exact to the specified decimal precision.
0.3... => 1/3 ; exact to the specified decimal precision.
(where "..." would be replaced with an over-bar within DrScheme, but
copied to the clipboard as "...", to enable a successive pastes)
Just thoughts, -paul-