Re: Operator precedence

On 2024-05-25, Axel Reichert <mail@axel-reichert.de> wrote:

Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> writes:
>

in the left associative semantics, we have a choice. We can do the
exponentation earnestly as if by:
>
  (expt (expt 5 2) 3)
>
Or we can take advantage of the identity:
>
  (expt 5 (* 2 3))
>
The former could be important in some situation involving
floating-point: you can't always use simplifying identities.

>
I cannot readily imagine a scenario in which simplifying is not possible
or is disadvantageous. Could you please elaborate?

I'm simply not enough of a numerical analyst to be able to rule such a
situation as nonexistent.

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