function for floating point representation of a number

[jasongrout]

Here's a function that answers the question posed in http://groups.google.com/group/sage-devel/browse_thread/thread/c8c75b483f2c47f6 -- give the sign, mantissa, and exponent of a floating point number.

I also cleaned up a few minor other things.

Component: basic arithmetic

Author: Jason Grout

Reviewer: Robert Bradshaw, John Cremona

Merged: sage-4.3.2.alpha0

Issue created by migration from https://trac.sagemath.org/ticket/7830

[jasongrout]

Attachment: trac-7830-floating_point_representation.patch.gz

[robertwb]

comment:2

Looks good. I don't like the name representation() either--maybe parts()?

[jasongrout]

comment:3

parts() seems too vague. Maybe ieee_754_parts(), except that we support arbitrary precision, not just the set precisions they mention. Maybe floating_point_representation(), or sign_mantissa_exponent().

I'm willing to concede on the naming to make sure this gets in before I start my numerical analysis class in two weeks :).

[robertwb]

comment:4

Lets go with sign_mantissa_exponent(). Verbose but clear, and one doesn't even have to look at the docstring every time to remember what order the tuple comes in :)

[jasongrout]

apply on top of previous patch

[jasongrout]

comment:5

Attachment: trac-7830-change-name.patch.gz

Okay, I added a patch which changes the name. This is hopefully ready for a positive review now :).

[JohnCremona]

comment:6

I see that you have only added this method to mpfr. Should we not preserve as much consistency as possible between the different real types by also adding it to real_double?

[jasongrout]

comment:7

Very good point. I'll look at this. I might just end up creating an RR number and calling this method behind the scenes

[jasongrout]

Attachment: trac-7830-sign_m_e.patch.gz

apply on top of previous patches