Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp
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From: Dave@Yost.COM (Dave Yost)
Subject: Odd (actually even) ROUND behavior
Message-ID: <yostCy5t3z.EvA@netcom.com>
Sender: yost@netcom.com (Dave Yost)
Reply-To: Dave@Yost.COM (Dave Yost)
Organization: Dave Yost's house
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 1994 04:14:23 GMT
Lines: 15

Could someone explain why lisp rounds the way it does?

    "if number is exactly halfway between two integers
    (that is, of the form integer + 0.5) then it is
    rounded toward the one that is even (divisible by 2)."
				   - Steele (CLtL2)

I've never heard of this practice, before or since computers.

I suppose it is useful for something, but why isn't the usual
type of rounding also available in the language?

-- 
  Dave Yost
      @    .COM
