[Numpy-discussion] Floating Point Difference between numpy and numarray

[Christopher Barker]

Hanni Ali wrote:
>      > Interesting example thanks. I can't however seem to get anything
>     other than
>      > zero for the 100,000 to 1 sum.

what is the "100,000 to 1 sum." this is my interpretation:

a = np.linspace(100000, 1, 100000)
 >>> a
array([  1.00000000e+05,   9.99990000e+04,   9.99980000e+04, ...,
          3.00000000e+00,   2.00000000e+00,   1.00000000e+00])
 >>> a.sum()
5000050000.0

which is exact, but it won't be if you use single precision:

 >>> a = a.astype(np.float32)
 >>> a.sum()
5.0000865e+09

You'd have to use tricks like compensated summation and the like to 
improve the answers, if you want. Actually, it would be kind of neat to 
have that in numpy or scipy...


What are you trying to do? Show us the code, and I'm sure someone can 
explain why you are getting what you are getting.

-Chris



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