This is the README file for the GAP package "Float"
This package implements floating-point numbers, with arbitrary precision, based on the C libraries MPFR, MPFI, MPC, FPLLL and CXSC.
The package is distributed in source form, and does not require anything else than a running GAP 4.7 or later. For updates, check the package website at https://github.com/gap-packages/float/.
To use the package, your must first compile it; this is done by invoking
./configure and then make in the main directory (where this file is).
./configure may be invoked with argument --with-gaproot=<location> to
specify the location where GAP is installed. The default is ../...
This package requires external libraries, at least one of mpfr, mpfi, mpc, fplll or
cxsc. If they were installed at standard locations, they will automatically be
found; otherwise, their location can be specified with these ./configure switches:
--with-mpfr=<location>--with-mpfi=<location>--with-mpc=<location>--with-fplll=<location>--with-cxsc=<location>
The include and library directories of the named library are then assumed to
be <location>/include resp. <location>/lib Alternatively, the include and
library directories can be specified with --with-mpfr-include=<location> and
--with-mpfr-lib=<location>, etc.
Most systems either come with these libraries, or supply a simple method for installing them. For instance, on Ubuntu the command
apt-get install libmpfr-dev libmpfi-dev libmpc-dev libfplll-dev
and on a mac with Homebrew the command
brew install mpfr mpfi libmpc fplll
should install the specified four libraries.
Once the package has been compiled, it may be used within GAP by typing
LoadPackage("Float");
The "Float" package banner should appear on the screen. New floating-point handlers may be then set by typing
SetFloats(MPFR,1000);
to have 1000-bits floating-point numbers. For details on how to use the Float
package, please consult the documentation. It is in the doc subdirectory,
see manual.pdf.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program, in the file COPYING. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.