DataType for 0.8725 . . . ? - SQL Server Forums

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DataType for 0.8725 . . . ?

Author

Topic

binggeli
Starting Member

20 Posts

Posted - 2006-01-19 : 17:05:11

I've inherited a web application that's been up and running for three years.

One of the tables in the SQL Server 2000 database has a bunch of fields that were declared as FLOAT -- but I am a bit confused about this.

If I read the MS documentation correctly, the FLOAT data type starts at 1, right? So what do I do if the value is 0.8725?

And what's the trick to make Query Analyzer display something other than zero when I type & execute:

PRINT (4/80)

Please, if anyone knows of a good tutorial or some other kind of helpful information, I'd be pretty happy with a link.

Thanks.

Michael Valentine Jones
Yak DBA Kernel (pronounced Colonel)

7020 Posts

Posted - 2006-01-19 : 17:14:38

Float can hold 0.8725 just fine.

The result of 4/80 = 0 is correct because it is an integer operation.

You should read about data types and cast/convert in SQL Server Books Online for a complete explanation of these issues.



select
	y = (4/80),
	x = convert(float,0.8725) 


y           x                                                     
----------- ----------------------------------------------------- 
0           0.87250000000000005

(1 row(s) affected)

CODO ERGO SUM

binggeli
Starting Member

20 Posts

Posted - 2006-01-19 : 17:24:08

Thanks for pointing me somewhere.

However, why does "z" not produce something other than zero:


select
	y = (4/80),
	x = convert(float,0.8725),
	z = convert(float,(4/8)) 


y   x                     z                                                     
--- --------------------- ------- 
0   0.87250000000000005   0.0

Michael Valentine Jones
Yak DBA Kernel (pronounced Colonel)

7020 Posts

Posted - 2006-01-19 : 17:30:53

The result of 4/8 = 0 because it is an integer operation.

You should read about data types and cast/convert in SQL Server Books Online for a complete explanation of these issues.

CODO ERGO SUM

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