does matlab have a problem with modular integer arithmetic?

1 view (last 30 days)
>> x = -78907292 * 1941317253; >> y = 2^32 +1
y =
4.29496729700000e+009
>> x
x =
-153.184087347109e+015
>> mod(x,y)
ans =
1.51932828600000e+009
correct answer:
= 1519328274 (python) and others...

Answers (3)

Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 24 Mar 2017
Try
X = int64(-78907292) * int64(1941317253)
Remember that the default data type is double not one of the integer data classes.

Roger Stafford
Roger Stafford on 24 Mar 2017
Edited: Roger Stafford on 24 Mar 2017
As has so often been pointed out in this forum, matlab’s “double” in everyone’s computers possesses a significand (mantissa) consisting of 53 binary digits. Consequently it is incapable of representing the above product -78907292*1941317253 exactly. For that reason the errors it must necessarily make will certainly be manifest using the mod function as given here. Have a heart! Or better still use the symbolic forms of numbers for such calculations.

alexander sharp
alexander sharp on 24 Mar 2017
an integer is an integer is an integer - by any other name. it is wrong
  1 Comment
Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 24 Mar 2017
MATLAB frequently allows people to use abbreviated forms. In MATLAB your line
x = -78907292 * 1941317253;
is considered to be an abbreviated form of
x = times(-78907292.0, 1941317253.0);
An integer might, as you say, be an integer, but you did not enter any integers.

Sign in to comment.

Community Treasure Hunt

Find the treasures in MATLAB Central and discover how the community can help you!

Start Hunting!