Float
DIM Var AS Float
This native datatype represents a double floating point value, i.e. an eight byte floating point value.
The value of Float is a number between -8.98846567431105E+307 and +8.98846567431105E+307
The precision of Float is 52 binary digits, which is 16 decimal digits (2^-52).
This means: if you add a (positive) number which is less than 2E-16 to 1.0, then the result will be exactly 1.0.
Examples
DIM x AS Float = Sin(0.32)
DIM y AS Float = x - (0.32 - 0.32 ^ 3 / (2 * 3))
PRINT x;;y
0.314566560616 2.789394945107E-5
Overflow during Float arithmetic operations is not detected!
Instead, the result is set to
1E+2147483647 or
-1E+2147483647 depending on the direction of the overlow.
If such an overflowed number is used in further expressions, then the execution stops and a message window shows "Mathematic error". The value of a Float can be compared against maxfloat or minfloat.
Examples
CONST maxfloat AS Float = +8.98846567431105E+307
CONST minfloat AS Float = -8.98846567431105E+307
...
IF y > maxfloat OR y < minfloat THEN
PRINT "Float y overflow"
ELSE
x = y / 23000
ENDIF
See also