Re: Bug/Gross InEfficiency in HeathField's fgetline program

Richard Heathfield wrote, On 05/11/07 23:40:
user923005 said:

On Nov 3, 2:54 pm, Richard Heathfield <r...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[...] the introduction of a discussion of
multiple currencies blurred the issue in my mind for a little while.
Taking a step back and thinking about it, I realised it represented a
completely separate issue.

I still stand by my statement that you can do double-entry book-keeping
*exactly*.
I disagree. If there are any rational or exponential calculations,
then it is not possible.
Examples:
Depreciation calculations
Interest calculations
Investments (Future value, Present value, Annuities...)

Yes, but it's the same blurring. The "how much interest should be added?" question cannot be answered exactly (except by chance, of course) - it must be rounded.

In the case of interest calculations (an a lot of other financial calculations), the rounding is actually part of the definition of the algorithm you are required to use in calculating the new value. So it can be argued that such calculations always provide an exact answer.

But double-entry book-keeping is about putting one *monetary* amount into two ledgers, once on the debit side and once on the credit side. This can be done exactly.

Not only can, but is actually required to be done exactly.
--
Flash Gordon
.

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