On 27 Jan 2005 01:55:11 -0800, Marcin
<mj***@pf.pl> wrote:
How I can make SQRT(2) with 20 digits precision (after float point)?
If your platform doesn't allow 21 digits of precision (x86 long double
is only 19 digits) then you will have to do it either with implementing
your own "big number" routines or use a large precision library like
gmp.
<OT>
When I was at school we had mechanical adding machines which were
cranked with a handle, with 10 digits plus overflow on each. We once
calculated sqrt(2) to 100 places, using 10 machines and doing the
'carry' manually from one to the next, it took us around 10 weeks of
lunch breaks. We called that 'fun'...
But it did teach me the techniques for doing large precision arithmetic
using smaller registers, which has been valuable since. Do they still
even teach "long division" in schools?
</OT>
Chris C