Re: using a float as the index in an STL map?

From:
"Victor Bazarov" <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:01:18 -0400
Message-ID:
<f0b66f$ent$1@news.datemas.de>
JDT wrote:

It seems that using floats as the first tupelo for an STL map (shown
below) can cause problems but I don't remember what the problems were.


The only thing I can think of is that if you expect two different
results of a calculation to lead to the same number (and ultimately
to the same stored in the map value), you may be in for a surprise.
Due to rounding errors in the FPU the mathematically equivalent
calculations can lead to different numbers internally.

Example, given that 'a' is 1.f and 'b' is 2.f, the expressions
(a + 2.f/3) and (b - 1.f/3) _can_ give you different results.

Is it common practice to use a structure like below? I would
appreciate if you can share your experience using such a structure.
Thanks.
std::map<float, int> m;


I _never_ saw a 'map' where 'float' would be the Key type. I cannot
claim to have seen all code in the world, and even a significant part
of it, so I cannot attest to "commonality" of the practice.

V
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