machine (integer)

Returns integer information describing the computer’s arithmetic.

Synopsis

#include <imsls.h>

long imsls_i_machine (int n)

Required Arguments

int n (Input)
Index indicating which value is to be returned. It must be between 0 and 12.

Return Value

The requested value is returned. If n is out of range, NaN is returned.

Description

Function imsls_i_machine returns information describing the computer’s arithmetic. This can be used to make programs machine independent.

imsls_i_machine(0) = Number of bits per byte

Assume that integers are represented in M-digit, base-A form as

 

where σ is the sign and 0  xk < A for k = 0, M. Then,

n

Definition

0

C, bits per character

1

A, the base

2

Ms, the number of base-A digits in a short int

3

the largest short int

4

M1 the number of base-A digits in a long int

5

the largest long int

Assume that floating-point numbers are represented in N-digit, base B form as

 

where σ is the sign and 0  xk < B for k = 1, N and Emin  E  Emax. Then

n

Definition

6

B, the base

7

Nf, the number of base-B digits in float

8

the smallest float exponent

9

the largest float exponent

10

Nd, the number of base-B digits in double

11

the largest long int

12

the number of base-B digits in double

Example

In this example, all the values returned by imsls_i_machine on a 32bit machine with IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineer) arithmetic are printed.

 

#include <imsls.h>

#include <stdio.h>

 

int main() {

int n;

long ans;

 

for (n = 0; n <= 12; n++) {

ans = imsls_i_machine(n);

printf("imsls_i_machine(%d) = %ld\n", n, ans);

}

}

Output

 

imsls_i_machine(0) = 8

imsls_i_machine(1) = 2

imsls_i_machine(2) = 15

imsls_i_machine(3) = 32767

imsls_i_machine(4) = 31

imsls_i_machine(5) = 2147483647

imsls_i_machine(6) = 2

imsls_i_machine(7) = 24

imsls_i_machine(8) = -125

imsls_i_machine(9) = 128

imsls_i_machine(10) = 53

imsls_i_machine(11) = -1021

imsls_i_machine(12) = 1024