Data Representation; Numbers; Scaled Representation (Scientific Notation); Nume~Ric Value Range - IBM 5110 User Manual

14
DATA REPRESENTATION
Numbers
The decimal digits 0 through 9 and the decimal point are used in the
usual way. The character -, called the negative sign, is used to denote
negative numbers. It appears as the leftmost character in the
representation of any number whose value is less than zero:
o . . . .
I.~
"'1.1·
...
~3""'"
2
Tho negative sign, -, is distinct from - (the symbol used to denote
subtraction) and can be used only as part of the numeric constant.
Scaled Representation (Scientific Notation)
You can represent numbers by stating a value in some convenient
range, then multiplying it by the appropriate power of 10. This type of
notation is called scaled representation in APL. The form of a scaled
number is a number (multiplier) followed by E and then an integer (the
scale) representing the appropriate power of 10. For example:
Number Scaled Form
t
Multiplier
66700 6.67E4
t
Scale
.00284
2.84E-3
The E (E can be read
times
10
to the)
in the middle indicates that this
is scaled form; the digits to the right of the E indicate the number of
places that the decimal point must be shifted. There can be no spaces
between the E and the numbers on either side of it.
Nume~nc
Value Range
Numeric values in the 5110 can range from -7.237005577332262E75
to 7.237005577332262E75. The smallest numeric value the 5110 can
use is ±5.397604346934028E -79.
Numeric Value Precision
Numbers in the 5110 are carried internally with a precision of 16
significant digits.