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subject > problem > defect > defect in a numerical algorithm |
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defect in a numerical algorithm comparison table |
Subject | have testing strategy | occur | force |
---|---|---|---|
assuming a floating point value will be exactly equal to some other value | standard boundary testing | ||
not using enough bits or digits to store maximum values | test using very large numbers to ensure the system has a wide enough margin of error | ||
not using enough places after the decimal point | perform calculations that involve many significant figures, and large differences in magnitude | the system to round excessively, which can mean that data is stored inaccurately and can also lead to a build-up of errors | |
not using enough significant figures | perform calculations that involve many significant figures, and large differences in magnitude | the system to round excessively, which can mean that data is stored inaccurately and can also lead to a build-up of errors | |
ordering operations poorly so errors build up |
| when you do small operations on large floating point numbers, and excessive rounding or truncation errors build up |
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