2.2.1.2 Real Constants

A real constant is a number written with a decimal point, exponent, or both. The constant can be positive, zero, or negative. It can have single precision (REAL*4), double precision (REAL*8), or quad precision (REAL*16).

REAL (REAL*4) Constants

A REAL constant can be any one of the following:

• A basic real constant

• A basic real constant followed by a decimal exponent

• An integer constant followed by a decimal exponent

A basic real constant takes one of the following forms:

   s.nn
 snn.nn
 snn.

s

Is an optional sign.

nn

Is a string of decimal digits. One decimal point can appear anywhere in the string.

A single-precision decimal exponent is denoted by the letter E and takes the following form:

Esnn

s

Is an optional sign.

nn

Is a string of decimal digits.

Rules and Behavior

A REAL constant occupies four bytes of memory. It is interpreted as a real number with a degree of precision that is typically seven decimal digits.

The number of digits is not limited, but typically only the leftmost seven digits are significant. Leading zeros (zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit) are ignored in counting the leftmost seven digits. Therefore, in the constant 0.00001234567, all of the nonzero digits, and none of the zeros, are significant.

The exponent represents a power of 10 by which the preceding real or integer constant is to be multiplied (for example, 1.0E6 represents the value 1.0 * 10**6).

A minus sign must appear before a negative REAL constant; a plus sign is optional before a positive constant. Similarly, a minus sign must appear between the letter E and a negative exponent, whereas a plus sign is optional between the letter E and a positive exponent.

A REAL constant contains the numerals 0 through 9, algebraic signs, a decimal point, and the letter E followed by an integer constant exponent field. The exponent field cannot be omitted, but it can be zero.

The ranges for the REAL*4 data type formats are shown in Section E.3.

Examples

The following examples show valid and invalid REAL constants:

For More Information:

For details on the format of REAL (REAL*4) data, see your user manual.

DOUBLE PRECISION (REAL*8) Constants

A DOUBLE PRECISION constant is a basic real constant or an integer constant followed by a decimal exponent. A double-precision decimal exponent is denoted by the letter D and takes the following form:

Dsnnn

s

Is an optional sign.

nnn

Is a string of decimal digits.

Rules and Behavior

A DOUBLE PRECISION constant occupies eight bytes of memory. The number of digits that precede the exponent is unlimited.

A minus sign must appear before a negative DOUBLE PRECISION constant; a plus sign is optional before a positive constant. Similarly, a minus sign must appear between the letter D and a negative exponent, whereas a plus sign is optional between the letter D and a positive exponent.

A DOUBLE PRECISION constant contains the numerals 0 through 9, algebraic signs, a decimal point, and the letter D followed by an integer constant exponent field. The exponent field cannot be omitted, but it can be zero.

Implementations of DOUBLE PRECISION (REAL*8)

The DOUBLE PRECISION formats are implemented as follows:

• On VAX processors, OpenVMS systems implement the D_floating and G_floating formats. The G_floating format offers a greater range but is less precise, having a smaller number of significant digits.

  The D_floating format typically has 16 (leftmost) significant digits and a two-digit exponent, while the G_floating format typically has 15 (leftmost) significant digits and a three-digit exponent.

  D_floating is the default implementation of DOUBLE PRECISION. You can select G_floating by specifying the compiler option G_ FLOATING.

• On Alpha processors, OpenVMS systems implement three formats: D_floating, G_floating, and IEEE T_floating (depending on the setting of the compiler option FLOAT).

  G_floating is the default implementation of DOUBLE PRECISION. (For complete details on the results of choosing a particular format, see your user manual.)

• Tru64 UNIX systems implement the IEEE T_floating format.

On Alpha processors, you can use the syntax Qsnnn if the exponent field is within the double precision range.

Examples

The following examples show valid and invalid DOUBLE PRECISION constants:

For More Information:

For details on the format of DOUBLE PRECISION (REAL*8) data, see your user manual.

REAL*16 Constants

A REAL*16 constant is a basic real constant or an integer constant followed by a decimal exponent. A quad-precision decimal exponent is denoted by the letter Q and takes the following form:

Qsnnn

For More Information:

For details on the format of REAL*16 data, see your user manual.