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Decimal.to_float

to_float

Group: Conversions

Documentation​

Convert this to a Float.

Examples​

Convert Decimal 23.45 to a Float.​

      d = Decimal.new "23.45"
      d.to_float
      # => 23.45

Errors​

  • If the Decimal is outside the representable range of Float (which is (-Double.MAX_VALUE, Double.MAX_VALUE), inclusive), +/-Inf is returned, and an Out_Of_Range warning is attached.
  • If the conversion results in a loss of precision, a Loss_Of_Numeric_Precision warning is attached.

Remarks​

Precision Loss​

While any Float can be precisely represented by a Decimal, not every Decimal can be accurately represented by a Float, so this conversion can lose precision. For this reason, converting a Decimal to a Float always attaches a Loss_Of_Numeric_Precision warning to the result.

Representable Values​

If the Decimal is outside the representable range of Float (which is (-Double.MAX_VALUE, Double.MAX_VALUE), inclusive), +/-Inf is returned, and an Out_Of_Range warning is attached.