How can a multiplication result of two small positive numbers equal 0 (python)?

Question

Why does the result of the next product yield the result 0?

print(3.944069389679206e-306*2.85043837e-46)

It is not just python, other languages have the same issue like @rdas referred to, but also another limitation is that all languages has decimal limit to display, afterward that limit, it would discard it. I think in R it is 14 decimals, and 15 in python, you can try it with pi. — user432797, Nov 16 '20 at 05:19

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 16 '20 at 05:16

0

The product that results from that multiplication is too small for floats to hold.

Python uses double-precision floats, which can hold values from about 10 to the -308 to 10 to the 308 power.

answered Nov 16 '20 at 05:16

BWallDev

1 Answers1