NAME

Math::BigRat - arbitrarily big rationales

SYNOPSIS

use Math::BigRat;

$x = Math::BigRat->new('3/7');

print $x->bstr(),"\n";

DESCRIPTION

This is just a placeholder until the real thing is up and running. Watch this space...

MATH LIBRARY

Math with the numbers is done (by default) by a module called Math::BigInt::Calc. This is equivalent to saying:

use Math::BigRat lib => 'Calc';

You can change this by using:

use Math::BigRat lib => 'BitVect';

The following would first try to find Math::BigInt::Foo, then Math::BigInt::Bar, and when this also fails, revert to Math::BigInt::Calc:

use Math::BigRat lib => 'Foo,Math::BigInt::Bar';

Calc.pm uses as internal format an array of elements of some decimal base (usually 1e7, but this might be differen for some systems) with the least significant digit first, while BitVect.pm uses a bit vector of base 2, most significant bit first. Other modules might use even different means of representing the numbers. See the respective module documentation for further details.

BUGS

None know yet. Please see also Math::BigInt.

LICENSE

This program is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

SEE ALSO

Math::BigFloat and Math::Big as well as Math::BigInt::BitVect, Math::BigInt::Pari and Math::BigInt::GMP.

The package at http://search.cpan.org/search?mode=module&query=Math%3A%3ABigRat may contain more documentation and examples as well as testcases.

AUTHORS

(C) by Tels http://bloodgate.com/ 2001-2002.