Built-in Mathematica Symbol

Real

Real
is the head used for real (floating-point) numbers.

MORE INFORMATION

_Real can be used to stand for a real number in a pattern.

You can enter a floating-point number of any length.

You can enter a number in scientific notation by using the form mantissa*^exponent.

You can enter a floating-point number in base b using b^^digits. The base must be less than 36. The letters a-z or A-Z are used in sequence to stand for digits 10 through 35.

Real is also used to indicate an approximate real number in Read.

EXAMPLES

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Basic Examples (1)

Enter a real number:

Real is the Head for real numbers:

Enter a real number:

In[1]:=

Out[1]=

Real is the Head for real numbers:

In[2]:=

Out[2]=

Scope (11)

Real numbers entered with just a few digits are generally represented as machine reals:

Enter a real number with many significant digits:

Arbitrary-precision reals are used when too many digits are given for a machine number:

Its Accuracy is based on the number of digits to the right of the decimal point:

Enter a real number with a specified Precision:

Enter a real number with a specified Accuracy:

Enter a real number with an exponent:

Enter a real number with an exponent and specified precision:

Enter a real number in binary:

Enter a real number in binary with precision specified in terms of bits:

Enter a real number in hexadecimal:

Enter a real number in base 35:

Format a real number using base 2:

_Real can be used to represent a real number in a pattern:

A rule that replaces real numbers with nearby rationals:

Applications (4)

Determine if a matrix consists entirely of approximate reals:

A rule that rounds all reals to have two digits after the decimal point:

Divide a restaurant bill to the nearest penny:

Define a function that only works for reals:

Define a function that has a special case for reals:

For integers and rationals use the corresponding approximate real:

Properties & Relations (5)

Reals are numbers:

Real is used for approximate reals:

Reals are atomic objects with no subexpressions:

Use different formats for displaying a real number:

Use Reals in assumptions and to indicate domain conditions:

Possible Issues (1)

Real is only the head for approximate real numbers:

You can use the following function to test for numbers on the real axis: