The Grinnell Scheme Web:
Integer numerals

How do you name an integer in Scheme?

Most often, you just use an ordinary numeral, a sequence of digits such as 3 or 5280 or 872163987619823698718981709721364981. Don't put any commas or spaces in the middle of the numeral, no matter how large it is -- Scheme will misinterpret such punctuation.

Does it make any difference if I have extra zeroes at the beginning of a numeral?

No. The numeral 0000475 names exactly the same integer as the numeral 475.

What about negative integers?

Just put a minus sign on the front: -72. Make sure it immediately precedes the first digit, with no intervening space -- a minus sign separated from a numeral by a space has a different meaning (usually, it denotes the subtraction procedure).

Should I use a plus sign to indicate that a number is positive?

You may, if you like, but you needn't; +91446 names the same integer as plain old 91446.

Is there any difference between -0 and +0?

No. -0, +0, and 0 are all names for the same integer.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Probably not. If you want to get fancy, Scheme also provides binary, octal, and hexadecimal numerals and inexact numerals for values that are known only approximately.


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This document is available on the World Wide Web as

http://www.math.grin.edu/~stone/scheme-web/integer-numerals.html


created June 22, 1995
last revised December 29, 1995

Copyright 1995 by John David Stone (stone@math.grin.edu)