> arbitrary precision is often the completely wrong tool, e.g. it would make certain key algorithms (like Gaussian elimination) exponential.
Sure, but even in science taking a lot of time to deliver a result, or failing to deliver one at all, is much safer than silently delivering the wrong result. There's the concept of fail-stop if you want a rigorous approach to safety. There's no analogous safety model that says silent overflow is the safe option.
Sure, but even in science taking a lot of time to deliver a result, or failing to deliver one at all, is much safer than silently delivering the wrong result. There's the concept of fail-stop if you want a rigorous approach to safety. There's no analogous safety model that says silent overflow is the safe option.