Output precision

[JuanPi]

Hi,
Could anybody give me a help understanding this?

> x = 987654321.123456789;
x =  9.8765e+08
> output_precision(45); output_max_field_width(50)
> x
x =  987654321.123456835746765136718750000000000000

Why is x not displayed in the way I created? In other words, Where did
the last couple of digits go?

Another results that puzzles me is (using the output precision and
field width as above)
> x = 987654321.123456
x =  987654321.123456001281738281250000000000000000

Thank you very much.

-- 
JuanPi Carbajal
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followed by a great evil to come, while the true economist pursues a
great good to come, at the risk of a small present evil." - Frédéric
Bastiat
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