Wikipedia / Truncation
Wikipedia / Truncation
In mathematics and computer science, truncation is limiting the number of digitss right of the decimal point.
Truncation and floor function
Truncation of positive real numbers can be done using the floor function, the number of elements to be kept behind the decimal point, the truncated value of x is
is used instead
.
Causes of truncation
With computers, truncation can occur when a decimal number is typecast as an integer; it is truncated to zero decimal digits because integers cannot store non-integer real numbers.
In algebra
An analogue of truncation can be applied to polynomials. In this case, the truncation of a polynomial P to degree n can be defined as the sum of all terms of P of degree n or less. Polynomial truncations arise in the study of Taylor polynomials, for example.
See also
References
External links
Wall paper applet that visualizes errors due to finite precision