Class

Float objects represent inexact real numbers using the native architecture’s double-precision floating point representation.

Floating point has a different arithmetic and is an inexact number. So you should know its esoteric system. See following:

Constants

Represents the rounding mode for floating point addition.

Usually defaults to 1, rounding to the nearest number.

Other modes include:

-1

Indeterminable

0

Rounding towards zero

1

Rounding to the nearest number

2

Rounding towards positive infinity

3

Rounding towards negative infinity

The base of the floating point, or number of unique digits used to represent the number.

Usually defaults to 2 on most systems, which would represent a base-10 decimal.

The number of base digits for the double data type.

Usually defaults to 53.

DIG

The minimum number of significant decimal digits in a double-precision floating point.

Usually defaults to 15.

The smallest possible exponent value in a double-precision floating point.

Usually defaults to -1021.

The largest possible exponent value in a double-precision floating point.

Usually defaults to 1024.

The smallest negative exponent in a double-precision floating point where 10 raised to this power minus 1.

Usually defaults to -307.

The largest positive exponent in a double-precision floating point where 10 raised to this power minus 1.

Usually defaults to 308.

MIN

The smallest positive normalized number in a double-precision floating point.

Usually defaults to 2.2250738585072014e-308.

If the platform supports denormalized numbers, there are numbers between zero and Float::MIN. 0.0.next_float returns the smallest positive floating point number including denormalized numbers.

MAX

The largest possible integer in a double-precision floating point number.

Usually defaults to 1.7976931348623157e+308.

The difference between 1 and the smallest double-precision floating point number greater than 1.

Usually defaults to 2.2204460492503131e-16.

An expression representing positive infinity.

NAN

An expression representing a value which is “not a number”.

Instance Methods

Returns the modulo after division of float by other.

6543.21.modulo(137)      #=> 104.21000000000004
6543.21.modulo(137.24)   #=> 92.92999999999961

Returns a new Float which is the product of float and other.

Raises float to the power of other.

2.0**3   #=> 8.0

Returns a new Float which is the sum of float and other.

Returns a new Float which is the difference of float and other.

Returns float, negated.

Returns a new Float which is the result of dividing float by other.

Returns true if float is less than real.

The result of NaN < NaN is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

Returns true if float is less than or equal to real.

The result of NaN <= NaN is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

Returns -1, 0, or +1 depending on whether float is less than, equal to, or greater than real. This is the basis for the tests in the Comparable module.

The result of NaN <=> NaN is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

nil is returned if the two values are incomparable.

Returns true only if obj has the same value as float. Contrast this with Float#eql?, which requires obj to be a Float.

1.0 == 1   #=> true

The result of NaN == NaN is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

An alias for ==

Returns true if float is greater than real.

The result of NaN > NaN is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

Returns true if float is greater than or equal to real.

The result of NaN >= NaN is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

Returns the absolute value of float.

(-34.56).abs   #=> 34.56
-34.56.abs     #=> 34.56
34.56.abs      #=> 34.56

Float#magnitude is an alias for Float#abs.

Returns 0 if the value is positive, pi otherwise.

Returns the smallest number greater than or equal to float with a precision of ndigits decimal digits (default: 0).

When the precision is negative, the returned value is an integer with at least ndigits.abs trailing zeros.

Returns a floating point number when ndigits is positive, otherwise returns an integer.

1.2.ceil      #=> 2
2.0.ceil      #=> 2
(-1.2).ceil   #=> -1
(-2.0).ceil   #=> -2

1.234567.ceil(2)   #=> 1.24
1.234567.ceil(3)   #=> 1.235
1.234567.ceil(4)   #=> 1.2346
1.234567.ceil(5)   #=> 1.23457

34567.89.ceil(-5)  #=> 100000
34567.89.ceil(-4)  #=> 40000
34567.89.ceil(-3)  #=> 35000
34567.89.ceil(-2)  #=> 34600
34567.89.ceil(-1)  #=> 34570
34567.89.ceil(0)   #=> 34568
34567.89.ceil(1)   #=> 34567.9
34567.89.ceil(2)   #=> 34567.89
34567.89.ceil(3)   #=> 34567.89

Note that the limited precision of floating point arithmetic might lead to surprising results:

(2.1 / 0.7).ceil  #=> 4 (!)

Returns an array with both numeric and float represented as Float objects.

This is achieved by converting numeric to a Float.

1.2.coerce(3)       #=> [3.0, 1.2]
2.5.coerce(1.1)     #=> [1.1, 2.5]

provides a unified clone operation, for REXML::XPathParser to use across multiple Object types

Returns the denominator (always positive). The result is machine dependent.

See also Float#numerator.

See Numeric#divmod.

42.0.divmod(6)   #=> [7, 0.0]
42.0.divmod(5)   #=> [8, 2.0]

Returns true only if obj is a Float with the same value as float. Contrast this with Float#==, which performs type conversions.

1.0.eql?(1)   #=> false

The result of NaN.eql?(NaN) is undefined, so an implementation-dependent value is returned.

Returns true if float is a valid IEEE floating point number, i.e. it is not infinite and Float#nan? is false.

Returns the largest number less than or equal to float with a precision of ndigits decimal digits (default: 0).

When the precision is negative, the returned value is an integer with at least ndigits.abs trailing zeros.

Returns a floating point number when ndigits is positive, otherwise returns an integer.

1.2.floor      #=> 1
2.0.floor      #=> 2
(-1.2).floor   #=> -2
(-2.0).floor   #=> -2

1.234567.floor(2)   #=> 1.23
1.234567.floor(3)   #=> 1.234
1.234567.floor(4)   #=> 1.2345
1.234567.floor(5)   #=> 1.23456

34567.89.floor(-5)  #=> 0
34567.89.floor(-4)  #=> 30000
34567.89.floor(-3)  #=> 34000
34567.89.floor(-2)  #=> 34500
34567.89.floor(-1)  #=> 34560
34567.89.floor(0)   #=> 34567
34567.89.floor(1)   #=> 34567.8
34567.89.floor(2)   #=> 34567.89
34567.89.floor(3)   #=> 34567.89

Note that the limited precision of floating point arithmetic might lead to surprising results:

(0.3 / 0.1).floor  #=> 2 (!)

Returns a hash code for this float.

See also Object#hash.

Returns nil, -1, or 1 depending on whether the value is finite, -Infinity, or +Infinity.

(0.0).infinite?        #=> nil
(-1.0/0.0).infinite?   #=> -1
(+1.0/0.0).infinite?   #=> 1
An alias for to_s

Returns true if float is an invalid IEEE floating point number.

a = -1.0      #=> -1.0
a.nan?        #=> false
a = 0.0/0.0   #=> NaN
a.nan?        #=> true

Returns true if float is less than 0.

Returns the next representable floating point number.

Float::MAX.next_float and Float::INFINITY.next_float is Float::INFINITY.

Float::NAN.next_float is Float::NAN.

For example:

0.01.next_float    #=> 0.010000000000000002
1.0.next_float     #=> 1.0000000000000002
100.0.next_float   #=> 100.00000000000001

0.01.next_float - 0.01     #=> 1.734723475976807e-18
1.0.next_float - 1.0       #=> 2.220446049250313e-16
100.0.next_float - 100.0   #=> 1.4210854715202004e-14

f = 0.01; 20.times { printf "%-20a %s\n", f, f.to_s; f = f.next_float }
#=> 0x1.47ae147ae147bp-7 0.01
#   0x1.47ae147ae147cp-7 0.010000000000000002
#   0x1.47ae147ae147dp-7 0.010000000000000004
#   0x1.47ae147ae147ep-7 0.010000000000000005
#   0x1.47ae147ae147fp-7 0.010000000000000007
#   0x1.47ae147ae148p-7  0.010000000000000009
#   0x1.47ae147ae1481p-7 0.01000000000000001
#   0x1.47ae147ae1482p-7 0.010000000000000012
#   0x1.47ae147ae1483p-7 0.010000000000000014
#   0x1.47ae147ae1484p-7 0.010000000000000016
#   0x1.47ae147ae1485p-7 0.010000000000000018
#   0x1.47ae147ae1486p-7 0.01000000000000002
#   0x1.47ae147ae1487p-7 0.010000000000000021
#   0x1.47ae147ae1488p-7 0.010000000000000023
#   0x1.47ae147ae1489p-7 0.010000000000000024
#   0x1.47ae147ae148ap-7 0.010000000000000026
#   0x1.47ae147ae148bp-7 0.010000000000000028
#   0x1.47ae147ae148cp-7 0.01000000000000003
#   0x1.47ae147ae148dp-7 0.010000000000000031
#   0x1.47ae147ae148ep-7 0.010000000000000033

f = 0.0
100.times { f += 0.1 }
f                           #=> 9.99999999999998       # should be 10.0 in the ideal world.
10-f                        #=> 1.9539925233402755e-14 # the floating point error.
10.0.next_float-10          #=> 1.7763568394002505e-15 # 1 ulp (unit in the last place).
(10-f)/(10.0.next_float-10) #=> 11.0                   # the error is 11 ulp.
(10-f)/(10*Float::EPSILON)  #=> 8.8                    # approximation of the above.
"%a" % 10                   #=> "0x1.4p+3"
"%a" % f                    #=> "0x1.3fffffffffff5p+3" # the last hex digit is 5.  16 - 5 = 11 ulp.

Returns the numerator. The result is machine dependent.

n = 0.3.numerator    #=> 5404319552844595
d = 0.3.denominator  #=> 18014398509481984
n.fdiv(d)            #=> 0.3

See also Float#denominator.

Returns true if float is greater than 0.

Returns the previous representable floating point number.

(-Float::MAX).prev_float and (-Float::INFINITY).prev_float is -Float::INFINITY.

Float::NAN.prev_float is Float::NAN.

For example:

0.01.prev_float    #=> 0.009999999999999998
1.0.prev_float     #=> 0.9999999999999999
100.0.prev_float   #=> 99.99999999999999

0.01 - 0.01.prev_float     #=> 1.734723475976807e-18
1.0 - 1.0.prev_float       #=> 1.1102230246251565e-16
100.0 - 100.0.prev_float   #=> 1.4210854715202004e-14

f = 0.01; 20.times { printf "%-20a %s\n", f, f.to_s; f = f.prev_float }
#=> 0x1.47ae147ae147bp-7 0.01
#   0x1.47ae147ae147ap-7 0.009999999999999998
#   0x1.47ae147ae1479p-7 0.009999999999999997
#   0x1.47ae147ae1478p-7 0.009999999999999995
#   0x1.47ae147ae1477p-7 0.009999999999999993
#   0x1.47ae147ae1476p-7 0.009999999999999992
#   0x1.47ae147ae1475p-7 0.00999999999999999
#   0x1.47ae147ae1474p-7 0.009999999999999988
#   0x1.47ae147ae1473p-7 0.009999999999999986
#   0x1.47ae147ae1472p-7 0.009999999999999985
#   0x1.47ae147ae1471p-7 0.009999999999999983
#   0x1.47ae147ae147p-7  0.009999999999999981
#   0x1.47ae147ae146fp-7 0.00999999999999998
#   0x1.47ae147ae146ep-7 0.009999999999999978
#   0x1.47ae147ae146dp-7 0.009999999999999976
#   0x1.47ae147ae146cp-7 0.009999999999999974
#   0x1.47ae147ae146bp-7 0.009999999999999972
#   0x1.47ae147ae146ap-7 0.00999999999999997
#   0x1.47ae147ae1469p-7 0.009999999999999969
#   0x1.47ae147ae1468p-7 0.009999999999999967

Returns float / numeric, same as Float#/.

Returns a simpler approximation of the value (flt-|eps| <= result <= flt+|eps|). If the optional argument eps is not given, it will be chosen automatically.

0.3.rationalize          #=> (3/10)
1.333.rationalize        #=> (1333/1000)
1.333.rationalize(0.01)  #=> (4/3)

See also Float#to_r.

Returns float rounded to the nearest value with a precision of ndigits decimal digits (default: 0).

When the precision is negative, the returned value is an integer with at least ndigits.abs trailing zeros.

Returns a floating point number when ndigits is positive, otherwise returns an integer.

1.4.round      #=> 1
1.5.round      #=> 2
1.6.round      #=> 2
(-1.5).round   #=> -2

1.234567.round(2)   #=> 1.23
1.234567.round(3)   #=> 1.235
1.234567.round(4)   #=> 1.2346
1.234567.round(5)   #=> 1.23457

34567.89.round(-5)  #=> 0
34567.89.round(-4)  #=> 30000
34567.89.round(-3)  #=> 35000
34567.89.round(-2)  #=> 34600
34567.89.round(-1)  #=> 34570
34567.89.round(0)   #=> 34568
34567.89.round(1)   #=> 34567.9
34567.89.round(2)   #=> 34567.89
34567.89.round(3)   #=> 34567.89

If the optional half keyword argument is given, numbers that are half-way between two possible rounded values will be rounded according to the specified tie-breaking mode:

  • :up or nil: round half away from zero (default)

  • :down: round half toward zero

  • :even: round half toward the nearest even number

    2.5.round(half: :up)      #=> 3
    2.5.round(half: :down)    #=> 2
    2.5.round(half: :even)    #=> 2
    3.5.round(half: :up)      #=> 4
    3.5.round(half: :down)    #=> 3
    3.5.round(half: :even)    #=> 4
    (-2.5).round(half: :up)   #=> -3
    (-2.5).round(half: :down) #=> -2
    (-2.5).round(half: :even) #=> -2
    

Returns the value of float as a BigDecimal. The precision parameter is used to determine the number of significant digits for the result (the default is Float::DIG).

require 'bigdecimal'
require 'bigdecimal/util'

0.5.to_d         # => 0.5e0
1.234.to_d(2)    # => 0.12e1

See also BigDecimal::new.

Since float is already a Float, returns self.

Returns the float truncated to an Integer.

1.2.to_i      #=> 1
(-1.2).to_i   #=> -1

Note that the limited precision of floating point arithmetic might lead to surprising results:

(0.3 / 0.1).to_i  #=> 2 (!)

to_int is an alias for to_i.

Returns the value as a rational.

2.0.to_r    #=> (2/1)
2.5.to_r    #=> (5/2)
-0.75.to_r  #=> (-3/4)
0.0.to_r    #=> (0/1)
0.3.to_r    #=> (5404319552844595/18014398509481984)

NOTE: 0.3.to_r isn’t the same as “0.3”.to_r. The latter is equivalent to “3/10”.to_r, but the former isn’t so.

0.3.to_r   == 3/10r  #=> false
"0.3".to_r == 3/10r  #=> true

See also Float#rationalize.

Returns a string containing a representation of self. As well as a fixed or exponential form of the float, the call may return NaN, Infinity, and -Infinity.

Returns float truncated (toward zero) to a precision of ndigits decimal digits (default: 0).

When the precision is negative, the returned value is an integer with at least ndigits.abs trailing zeros.

Returns a floating point number when ndigits is positive, otherwise returns an integer.

2.8.truncate           #=> 2
(-2.8).truncate        #=> -2
1.234567.truncate(2)   #=> 1.23
34567.89.truncate(-2)  #=> 34500

Note that the limited precision of floating point arithmetic might lead to surprising results:

(0.3 / 0.1).truncate  #=> 2 (!)

Returns true if float is 0.0.