numeric::sort -- sort a numerical
list
Introductionnumeric::sort(list) sorts the elements in
list.
Call(s)numeric::sort(list)
Parameterslist |
- | a list of numbers or numerical expressions |
Returnsa sorted list
Side
EffectsThe function is sensitive to the environment variable DIGITS.
Related
Functions
Detailsfloat. Elements that
cannot be converted lead to an error.numeric::eigenvalues, numeric::eigenvectors,
numeric::polyroots,
numeric::singularvalues and
numeric::singularvectors.
Example
1>> numeric::sort([1, 2.0, I, -3, -I, PI, sqrt(2)])
[-3.0, 1.0 I, - 1.0 I, 1.0, 1.414213562, 2.0, 3.141592654]
In the following example the sorting criterion does not seem to be satisfied:
>> x := sin(PI/3):
>> L := numeric::sort([x, sin(float(PI/3)) - I, x + I])
[0.8660254038 - 1.0 I, 0.8660254038, 0.8660254038 + 1.0 I]
This is explained by the fact that the floating point numbers internally have a more accurate representation than shown on the screen. The real part of the first element is indeed a little bit smaller than the other real parts:
>> DIGITS := 20: L
[0.86602540378443864668 - 1.0 I, 0.86602540378443864673,
0.86602540378443864673 + 1.0 I]
>> delete x, L, DIGITS: