changeset 82391:078d8d6716f1

(Basic Operations on Units): Mention exact versus inexact conversions.
author Jay Belanger <jay.p.belanger@gmail.com>
date Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:44:04 +0000
parents c315336c2be8
children df9672b71c7c
files man/calc.texi
diffstat 1 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-) [+]
line wrap: on
line diff
--- a/man/calc.texi	Wed Aug 15 15:42:58 2007 +0000
+++ b/man/calc.texi	Wed Aug 15 15:44:04 2007 +0000
@@ -27443,6 +27443,14 @@
 typing @kbd{u c @key{RET}} (without specifying new units) produces
 @samp{27.7777777778 m/s}.
 
+While many of Calc's conversion factors are exact, some are necessarily
+approximate.  If Calc is in fraction mode (@pxref{Fraction Mode}), then
+unit conversions will try to give exact, rational conversions, but it
+isn't always possible.  Given @samp{55 mph}, typing 
+@kbd{u c m/s @key{RET}} produces  @samp{15367:625 m/s}, for example, 
+while typing @kbd{u c au/yr @key{RET}} produces 
+@samp{5.18665819999e-3 au/yr}.
+
 If the units you request are inconsistent with the original units, the
 number will be converted into your units times whatever ``remainder''
 units are left over.  For example, converting @samp{55 mph} into acres