Rational Arithmetic
Eric Hehner and Nigel Horspool proposed in 1979 the use of a p-adic representation for rational numbers on computers called Quote notation. The primary advantage of such a representation is that addition, subtraction, and multiplication can be done in a straightforward manner analogous to similar methods for binary integers; and division is even simpler, resembling multiplication. However, it has the disadvantage that representations can be much larger than simply storing the numerator and denominator in binary; for example, if 2n − 1 is a Mersenne prime, its reciprocal will require 2n − 1 bits to represent.
Read more about this topic: p-adic Number
Famous quotes containing the words rational and/or arithmetic:
“It is not to be forgotten that what we call rational grounds for our beliefs are often extremely irrational attempts to justify our instincts.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“O! O! another stroke! that makes the third.
He stabs me to the heart against my wish.
If that be so, thy state of health is poor;
But thine arithmetic is quite correct.”
—A.E. (Alfred Edward)