@cindex hex numbers
@cindex octal numbers
@cindex reading numbers in hex, octal, and binary
- In addition, the Lisp reader recognizes a syntax for integers in
-bases other than 10: @samp{#B@var{integer}} reads @var{integer} in
-binary (radix 2), @samp{#O@var{integer}} reads @var{integer} in octal
-(radix 8), @samp{#X@var{integer}} reads @var{integer} in hexadecimal
-(radix 16), and @samp{#@var{radix}r@var{integer}} reads @var{integer}
-in radix @var{radix} (where @var{radix} is between 2 and 36,
-inclusively). Case is not significant for the letter after @samp{#}
-(@samp{B}, @samp{O}, etc.) that denotes the radix.
+ The syntax for integers in bases other than 10 uses @samp{#}
+followed by a letter that specifies the radix: @samp{b} for binary,
+@samp{o} for octal, @samp{x} for hex, or @samp{@var{radix}r} to
+specify radix @var{radix}. Case is not significant for the letter
+that specifies the radix. Thus, @samp{#b@var{integer}} reads
+@var{integer} in binary, and @samp{#@var{radix}r@var{integer}} reads
+@var{integer} in radix @var{radix}. Allowed values of @var{radix} run
+from 2 to 36. For example:
+
+@example
+#b101100 @result{} 44
+#o54 @result{} 44
+#x2c @result{} 44
+#24r1k @result{} 44
+@end example
To understand how various functions work on integers, especially the
bitwise operators (@pxref{Bitwise Operations}), it is often helpful to
@cindex negative infinity
@cindex infinity
@cindex NaN
- Most modern computers support the @acronym{IEEE} floating point standard, which
-provides for positive infinity and negative infinity as floating point
+ Most modern computers support the @acronym{IEEE} floating point standard,
+which provides for positive infinity and negative infinity as floating point
values. It also provides for a class of values called NaN or
``not-a-number''; numerical functions return such values in cases where
-there is no correct answer. For example, @code{(sqrt -1.0)} returns a
+there is no correct answer. For example, @code{(/ 0.0 0.0)} returns a
NaN. For practical purposes, there's no significant difference between
different NaN values in Emacs Lisp, and there's no rule for precisely
which NaN value should be used in a particular case, so Emacs Lisp
@end table
In addition, the value @code{-0.0} is distinguishable from ordinary
-zero in @acronym{IEEE} floating point (although @code{equal} and @code{=} consider
-them equal values).
+zero in @acronym{IEEE} floating point (although @code{equal} and
+@code{=} consider them equal values).
You can use @code{logb} to extract the binary exponent of a floating
point number (or estimate the logarithm of an integer):
@node Predicates on Numbers
@section Type Predicates for Numbers
- The functions in this section test whether the argument is a number or
-whether it is a certain sort of number. The functions @code{integerp}
-and @code{floatp} can take any type of Lisp object as argument (the
-predicates would not be of much use otherwise); but the @code{zerop}
-predicate requires a number as its argument. See also
-@code{integer-or-marker-p} and @code{number-or-marker-p}, in
-@ref{Predicates on Markers}.
+ The functions in this section test for numbers, or for a specific
+type of number. The functions @code{integerp} and @code{floatp} can
+take any type of Lisp object as argument (they would not be of much
+use otherwise), but the @code{zerop} predicate requires a number as
+its argument. See also @code{integer-or-marker-p} and
+@code{number-or-marker-p}, in @ref{Predicates on Markers}.
@defun floatp object
This predicate tests whether its argument is a floating point
This predicate tests whether its argument is zero, and returns @code{t}
if so, @code{nil} otherwise. The argument must be a number.
-These two forms are equivalent: @code{(zerop x)} @equiv{} @code{(= x 0)}.
+@code{(zerop x)} is equivalent to @code{(= x 0)}.
@end defun
@node Comparison of Numbers
can, even for comparing integers, just in case we change the
representation of integers in a future Emacs version.
- Sometimes it is useful to compare numbers with @code{equal}; it treats
-two numbers as equal if they have the same data type (both integers, or
-both floating point) and the same value. By contrast, @code{=} can
-treat an integer and a floating point number as equal.
+ Sometimes it is useful to compare numbers with @code{equal}; it
+treats two numbers as equal if they have the same data type (both
+integers, or both floating point) and the same value. By contrast,
+@code{=} can treat an integer and a floating point number as equal.
+@xref{Equality Predicates}.
There is another wrinkle: because floating point arithmetic is not
exact, it is often a bad idea to check for equality of two floating
returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise.
@end defun
+@defun eql value1 value2
+This function acts like @code{eq} except when both arguments are
+numbers. It compares numbers by type and numberic value, so that
+@code{(eql 1.0 1)} returns @code{nil}, but @code{(eql 1.0 1.0)} and
+@code{(eql 1 1)} both return @code{t}.
+@end defun
+
@defun /= number-or-marker1 number-or-marker2
This function tests whether its arguments are numerically equal, and
returns @code{t} if they are not, and @code{nil} if they are.
@defun max number-or-marker &rest numbers-or-markers
This function returns the largest of its arguments.
-If any of the argument is floating-point, the value is returned
+If any of the arguments is floating-point, the value is returned
as floating point, even if it was given as an integer.
@example
@defun min number-or-marker &rest numbers-or-markers
This function returns the smallest of its arguments.
-If any of the argument is floating-point, the value is returned
+If any of the arguments is floating-point, the value is returned
as floating point, even if it was given as an integer.
@example
@end defun
There are four functions to convert floating point numbers to integers;
-they differ in how they round. These functions accept integer arguments
-also, and return such arguments unchanged.
-
-@defun truncate number
+they differ in how they round. All accept an argument @var{number}
+and an optional argument @var{divisor}. Both arguments may be
+integers or floating point numbers. @var{divisor} may also be
+@code{nil}. If @var{divisor} is @code{nil} or omitted, these
+functions convert @var{number} to an integer, or return it unchanged
+if it already is an integer. If @var{divisor} is non-@code{nil}, they
+divide @var{number} by @var{divisor} and convert the result to an
+integer. An @code{arith-error} results if @var{divisor} is 0.
+
+@defun truncate number &optional divisor
This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding towards
zero.
This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding downward
(towards negative infinity).
-If @var{divisor} is specified, @code{floor} divides @var{number} by
-@var{divisor} and then converts to an integer; this uses the kind of
-division operation that corresponds to @code{mod}, rounding downward.
-An @code{arith-error} results if @var{divisor} is 0.
+If @var{divisor} is specified, this uses the kind of division
+operation that corresponds to @code{mod}, rounding downward.
@example
(floor 1.2)
@end example
@end defun
-@defun ceiling number
+@defun ceiling number &optional divisor
This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding upward
(towards positive infinity).
@end example
@end defun
-@defun round number
+@defun round number &optional divisor
This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding towards the
nearest integer. Rounding a value equidistant between two integers
may choose the integer closer to zero, or it may prefer an even integer,
@tex
@math{\pi/2}
@end tex
-(inclusive) whose sine is @var{arg}; if, however, @var{arg}
-is out of range (outside [-1, 1]), then the result is a NaN.
+(inclusive) whose sine is @var{arg}; if, however, @var{arg} is out of
+range (outside [-1, 1]), it signals a @code{domain-error} error.
@end defun
@defun acos arg
@tex
@math{\pi}
@end tex
-(inclusive) whose cosine is @var{arg}; if, however, @var{arg}
-is out of range (outside [-1, 1]), then the result is a NaN.
+(inclusive) whose cosine is @var{arg}; if, however, @var{arg} is out
+of range (outside [-1, 1]), it signals a @code{domain-error} error.
@end defun
@defun atan y &optional x
@ifnottex
@i{e}
@end ifnottex
-is used. If @var{arg}
-is negative, the result is a NaN.
+is used. If @var{arg} is negative, it signals a @code{domain-error}
+error.
@end defun
@ignore
@defun log10 arg
This function returns the logarithm of @var{arg}, with base 10. If
-@var{arg} is negative, the result is a NaN. @code{(log10 @var{x})}
-@equiv{} @code{(log @var{x} 10)}, at least approximately.
+@var{arg} is negative, it signals a @code{domain-error} error.
+@code{(log10 @var{x})} @equiv{} @code{(log @var{x} 10)}, at least
+approximately.
@end defun
@defun expt x y
This function returns @var{x} raised to power @var{y}. If both
arguments are integers and @var{y} is positive, the result is an
-integer; in this case, it is truncated to fit the range of possible
-integer values.
+integer; in this case, overflow causes truncation, so watch out.
@end defun
@defun sqrt arg
This returns the square root of @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is negative,
-the value is a NaN.
+it signals a @code{domain-error} error.
@end defun
@node Random Numbers
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff