@c -*-texinfo-*- @c This is part of the GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual. @c Copyright (C) 1990--1995, 1998--1999, 2001--2022 Free Software @c Foundation, Inc. @c See the file elisp.texi for copying conditions. @node Numbers @chapter Numbers @cindex integers @cindex numbers GNU Emacs supports two numeric data types: @dfn{integers} and @dfn{floating-point numbers}. Integers are whole numbers such as @minus{}3, 0, 7, 13, and 511. Floating-point numbers are numbers with fractional parts, such as @minus{}4.5, 0.0, and 2.71828. They can also be expressed in exponential notation: @samp{1.5e2} is the same as @samp{150.0}; here, @samp{e2} stands for ten to the second power, and that is multiplied by 1.5. Integer computations are exact. Floating-point computations often involve rounding errors, as the numbers have a fixed amount of precision. @menu * Integer Basics:: Representation and range of integers. * Float Basics:: Representation and range of floating point. * Predicates on Numbers:: Testing for numbers. * Comparison of Numbers:: Equality and inequality predicates. * Numeric Conversions:: Converting float to integer and vice versa. * Arithmetic Operations:: How to add, subtract, multiply and divide. * Rounding Operations:: Explicitly rounding floating-point numbers. * Bitwise Operations:: Logical and, or, not, shifting. * Math Functions:: Trig, exponential and logarithmic functions. * Random Numbers:: Obtaining random integers, predictable or not. @end menu @node Integer Basics @section Integer Basics The Lisp reader reads an integer as a nonempty sequence of decimal digits with optional initial sign and optional final period. @example 1 ; @r{The integer 1.} 1. ; @r{The integer 1.} +1 ; @r{Also the integer 1.} -1 ; @r{The integer @minus{}1.} 0 ; @r{The integer 0.} -0 ; @r{The integer 0.} @end example @cindex integers in specific radix @cindex radix for reading an integer @cindex base for reading an integer @cindex hex numbers @cindex octal numbers @cindex reading numbers in hex, octal, and binary The syntax for integers in bases other than 10 consists of @samp{#} followed by a radix indication followed by one or more digits. The radix indications are @samp{b} for binary, @samp{o} for octal, @samp{x} for hex, and @samp{@var{radix}r} for radix @var{radix}. Thus, @samp{#b@var{integer}} reads @var{integer} in binary, and @samp{#@var{radix}r@var{integer}} reads @var{integer} in radix @var{radix}. Allowed values of @var{radix} run from 2 to 36, and allowed digits are the first @var{radix} characters taken from @samp{0}--@samp{9}, @samp{A}--@samp{Z}. Letter case is ignored and there is no initial sign or final period. For example: @example #b101100 @result{} 44 #o54 @result{} 44 #x2c @result{} 44 #24r1k @result{} 44 @end example To understand how various functions work on integers, especially the bitwise operators (@pxref{Bitwise Operations}), it is often helpful to view the numbers in their binary form. In binary, the decimal integer 5 looks like this: @example @dots{}000101 @end example @noindent (The ellipsis @samp{@dots{}} stands for a conceptually infinite number of bits that match the leading bit; here, an infinite number of 0 bits. Later examples also use this @samp{@dots{}} notation.) The integer @minus{}1 looks like this: @example @dots{}111111 @end example @noindent @cindex two's complement @minus{}1 is represented as all ones. (This is called @dfn{two's complement} notation.) Subtracting 4 from @minus{}1 returns the negative integer @minus{}5. In binary, the decimal integer 4 is 100. Consequently, @minus{}5 looks like this: @example @dots{}111011 @end example Many of the functions described in this chapter accept markers for arguments in place of numbers. (@xref{Markers}.) Since the actual arguments to such functions may be either numbers or markers, we often give these arguments the name @var{number-or-marker}. When the argument value is a marker, its position value is used and its buffer is ignored. In Emacs Lisp, text characters are represented by integers. Any integer between zero and the value of @code{(max-char)}, inclusive, is considered to be valid as a character. @xref{Character Codes}. Integers in Emacs Lisp are not limited to the machine word size. Under the hood, though, there are two kinds of integers: smaller ones, called @dfn{fixnums}, and larger ones, called @dfn{bignums}. Although Emacs Lisp code ordinarily should not depend on whether an integer is a fixnum or a bignum, older Emacs versions support only fixnums, some functions in Emacs still accept only fixnums, and older Emacs Lisp code may have trouble when given bignums. For example, while older Emacs Lisp code could safely compare integers for numeric equality with @code{eq}, the presence of bignums means that equality predicates like @code{eql} and @code{=} should now be used to compare integers. The range of values for bignums is limited by the amount of main memory, by machine characteristics such as the size of the word used to represent a bignum's exponent, and by the @code{integer-width} variable. These limits are typically much more generous than the limits for fixnums. A bignum is never numerically equal to a fixnum; Emacs always represents an integer in fixnum range as a fixnum, not a bignum. The range of values for a fixnum depends on the machine. The minimum range is @minus{}536,870,912 to 536,870,911 (30 bits; i.e., @ifnottex @minus{}2**29 @end ifnottex @tex @math{-2^{29}} @end tex to @ifnottex 2**29 @minus{} 1), @end ifnottex @tex @math{2^{29}-1}), @end tex but many machines provide a wider range. @cindex largest fixnum @cindex maximum fixnum @defvar most-positive-fixnum The value of this variable is the greatest ``small'' integer that Emacs Lisp can handle. Typical values are @ifnottex 2**29 @minus{} 1 @end ifnottex @tex @math{2^{29}-1} @end tex on 32-bit and @ifnottex 2**61 @minus{} 1 @end ifnottex @tex @math{2^{61}-1} @end tex on 64-bit platforms. @end defvar @cindex smallest fixnum @cindex minimum fixnum @defvar most-negative-fixnum The value of this variable is the numerically least ``small'' integer that Emacs Lisp can handle. It is negative. Typical values are @ifnottex @minus{}2**29 @end ifnottex @tex @math{-2^{29}} @end tex on 32-bit and @ifnottex @minus{}2**61 @end ifnottex @tex @math{-2^{61}} @end tex on 64-bit platforms. @end defvar @cindex bignum range @cindex integer range @cindex number of bignum bits, limit on @defvar integer-width The value of this variable is a nonnegative integer that controls whether Emacs signals a range error when a large integer would be calculated. Integers with absolute values less than @ifnottex 2**@var{n}, @end ifnottex @tex @math{2^{n}}, @end tex where @var{n} is this variable's value, do not signal a range error. Attempts to create larger integers typically signal a range error, although there might be no signal if a larger integer can be created cheaply. Setting this variable to a large number can be costly if a computation creates huge integers. @end defvar @node Float Basics @section Floating-Point Basics @cindex @acronym{IEEE} floating point Floating-point numbers are useful for representing numbers that are not integral. The range of floating-point numbers is the same as the range of the C data type @code{double} on the machine you are using. On all computers supported by Emacs, this is @acronym{IEEE} binary64 floating point format, which is standardized by @url{https://standards.ieee.org/standard/754-2019.html,,IEEE Std 754-2019} and is discussed further in David Goldberg's paper ``@url{https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19957-01/806-3568/ncg_goldberg.html, What Every Computer Scientist Should Know About Floating-Point Arithmetic}''. On modern platforms, floating-point operations follow the IEEE-754 standard closely; however, results are not always rounded correctly on some obsolescent platforms, notably 32-bit x86. The read syntax for floating-point numbers requires either a decimal point, an exponent, or both. Optional signs (@samp{+} or @samp{-}) precede the number and its exponent. For example, @samp{1500.0}, @samp{+15e2}, @samp{15.0e+2}, @samp{+1500000e-3}, and @samp{.15e4} are five ways of writing a floating-point number whose value is 1500. They are all equivalent. Like Common Lisp, Emacs Lisp requires at least one digit after a decimal point in a floating-point number that does not have an exponent; @samp{1500.} is an integer, not a floating-point number. Emacs Lisp treats @code{-0.0} as numerically equal to ordinary zero with respect to numeric comparisons like @code{=}. This follows the @acronym{IEEE} floating-point standard, which says @code{-0.0} and @code{0.0} are numerically equal even though other operations can distinguish them. @cindex positive infinity @cindex negative infinity @cindex infinity @cindex NaN The @acronym{IEEE} floating-point standard supports positive infinity and negative infinity as floating-point values. It also provides for a class of values called NaN, or ``not a number''; numerical functions return such values in cases where there is no correct answer. For example, @code{(/ 0.0 0.0)} returns a NaN@. A NaN is never numerically equal to any value, not even to itself. NaNs carry a sign and a significand, and non-numeric functions treat two NaNs as equal when their signs and significands agree. Significands of NaNs are machine-dependent, as are the digits in their string representation. When NaNs and signed zeros are involved, non-numeric functions like @code{eql}, @code{equal}, @code{sxhash-eql}, @code{sxhash-equal} and @code{gethash} determine whether values are indistinguishable, not whether they are numerically equal. For example, when @var{x} and @var{y} are the same NaN, @code{(equal x y)} returns @code{t} whereas @code{(= x y)} uses numeric comparison and returns @code{nil}; conversely, @code{(equal 0.0 -0.0)} returns @code{nil} whereas @code{(= 0.0 -0.0)} returns @code{t}. Here are read syntaxes for these special floating-point values: @table @asis @item infinity @samp{1.0e+INF} and @samp{-1.0e+INF} @item not-a-number @samp{0.0e+NaN} and @samp{-0.0e+NaN} @end table The following functions are specialized for handling floating-point numbers: @defun isnan x This predicate returns @code{t} if its floating-point argument is a NaN, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun frexp x This function returns a cons cell @code{(@var{s} . @var{e})}, where @var{s} and @var{e} are respectively the significand and exponent of the floating-point number @var{x}. If @var{x} is finite, then @var{s} is a floating-point number between 0.5 (inclusive) and 1.0 (exclusive), @var{e} is an integer, and @ifnottex @var{x} = @var{s} * 2**@var{e}. @end ifnottex @tex @math{x = s 2^e}. @end tex If @var{x} is zero or infinity, then @var{s} is the same as @var{x}. If @var{x} is a NaN, then @var{s} is also a NaN@. If @var{x} is zero, then @var{e} is 0. @end defun @defun ldexp s e Given a numeric significand @var{s} and an integer exponent @var{e}, this function returns the floating point number @ifnottex @var{s} * 2**@var{e}. @end ifnottex @tex @math{s 2^e}. @end tex @end defun @defun copysign x1 x2 This function copies the sign of @var{x2} to the value of @var{x1}, and returns the result. @var{x1} and @var{x2} must be floating point. @end defun @defun logb x This function returns the binary exponent of @var{x}. More precisely, if @var{x} is finite and nonzero, the value is the logarithm base 2 of @math{|x|}, rounded down to an integer. If @var{x} is zero or infinite, the value is infinity; if @var{x} is a NaN, the value is a NaN. @example (logb 10) @result{} 3 (logb 10.0e20) @result{} 69 (logb 0) @result{} -1.0e+INF @end example @end defun @node Predicates on Numbers @section Type Predicates for Numbers @cindex predicates for numbers The functions in this section test for numbers, or for a specific type of number. The functions @code{integerp} and @code{floatp} can take any type of Lisp object as argument (they would not be of much use otherwise), but the @code{zerop} predicate requires a number as its argument. See also @code{integer-or-marker-p} and @code{number-or-marker-p}, in @ref{Predicates on Markers}. @defun bignump object This predicate tests whether its argument is a large integer, and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. Unlike small integers, large integers can be @code{=} or @code{eql} even if they are not @code{eq}. @end defun @defun fixnump object This predicate tests whether its argument is a small integer, and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. Small integers can be compared with @code{eq}. @end defun @defun floatp object This predicate tests whether its argument is floating point and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun integerp object This predicate tests whether its argument is an integer, and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun numberp object This predicate tests whether its argument is a number (either integer or floating point), and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun natnump object @cindex natural numbers This predicate (whose name comes from the phrase ``natural number'') tests to see whether its argument is a nonnegative integer, and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. 0 is considered non-negative. @findex wholenump @code{wholenump} is a synonym for @code{natnump}. @end defun @defun zerop number This predicate tests whether its argument is zero, and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. The argument must be a number. @code{(zerop x)} is equivalent to @code{(= x 0)}. @end defun @node Comparison of Numbers @section Comparison of Numbers @cindex number comparison @cindex comparing numbers To test numbers for numerical equality, you should normally use @code{=} instead of non-numeric comparison predicates like @code{eq}, @code{eql} and @code{equal}. Distinct floating-point and large integer objects can be numerically equal. If you use @code{eq} to compare them, you test whether they are the same @emph{object}; if you use @code{eql} or @code{equal}, you test whether their values are @emph{indistinguishable}. In contrast, @code{=} uses numeric comparison, and sometimes returns @code{t} when a non-numeric comparison would return @code{nil} and vice versa. @xref{Float Basics}. In Emacs Lisp, if two fixnums are numerically equal, they are the same Lisp object. That is, @code{eq} is equivalent to @code{=} on fixnums. It is sometimes convenient to use @code{eq} for comparing an unknown value with a fixnum, because @code{eq} does not report an error if the unknown value is not a number---it accepts arguments of any type. By contrast, @code{=} signals an error if the arguments are not numbers or markers. However, it is better programming practice to use @code{=} if you can, even for comparing integers. Sometimes it is useful to compare numbers with @code{eql} or @code{equal}, which treat two numbers as equal if they have the same data type (both integers, or both floating point) and the same value. By contrast, @code{=} can treat an integer and a floating-point number as equal. @xref{Equality Predicates}. There is another wrinkle: because floating-point arithmetic is not exact, it is often a bad idea to check for equality of floating-point values. Usually it is better to test for approximate equality. Here's a function to do this: @example (defvar fuzz-factor 1.0e-6) (defun approx-equal (x y) (or (= x y) (< (/ (abs (- x y)) (max (abs x) (abs y))) fuzz-factor))) @end example @defun = number-or-marker &rest number-or-markers This function tests whether all its arguments are numerically equal, and returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun eql value1 value2 This function acts like @code{eq} except when both arguments are numbers. It compares numbers by type and numeric value, so that @code{(eql 1.0 1)} returns @code{nil}, but @code{(eql 1.0 1.0)} and @code{(eql 1 1)} both return @code{t}. This can be used to compare large integers as well as small ones. Floating-point values with the same sign, exponent and fraction are @code{eql}. This differs from numeric comparison: @code{(eql 0.0 -0.0)} returns @code{nil} and @code{(eql 0.0e+NaN 0.0e+NaN)} returns @code{t}, whereas @code{=} does the opposite. @end defun @defun /= number-or-marker1 number-or-marker2 This function tests whether its arguments are numerically equal, and returns @code{t} if they are not, and @code{nil} if they are. @end defun @defun < number-or-marker &rest number-or-markers This function tests whether each argument is strictly less than the following argument. It returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun <= number-or-marker &rest number-or-markers This function tests whether each argument is less than or equal to the following argument. It returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun > number-or-marker &rest number-or-markers This function tests whether each argument is strictly greater than the following argument. It returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun >= number-or-marker &rest number-or-markers This function tests whether each argument is greater than or equal to the following argument. It returns @code{t} if so, @code{nil} otherwise. @end defun @defun max number-or-marker &rest numbers-or-markers This function returns the largest of its arguments. @example (max 20) @result{} 20 (max 1 2.5) @result{} 2.5 (max 1 3 2.5) @result{} 3 @end example @end defun @defun min number-or-marker &rest numbers-or-markers This function returns the smallest of its arguments. @example (min -4 1) @result{} -4 @end example @end defun @defun abs number This function returns the absolute value of @var{number}. @end defun @node Numeric Conversions @section Numeric Conversions @cindex rounding in conversions @cindex number conversions @cindex converting numbers To convert an integer to floating point, use the function @code{float}. @defun float number This returns @var{number} converted to floating point. If @var{number} is already floating point, @code{float} returns it unchanged. @end defun There are four functions to convert floating-point numbers to integers; they differ in how they round. All accept an argument @var{number} and an optional argument @var{divisor}. Both arguments may be integers or floating-point numbers. @var{divisor} may also be @code{nil}. If @var{divisor} is @code{nil} or omitted, these functions convert @var{number} to an integer, or return it unchanged if it already is an integer. If @var{divisor} is non-@code{nil}, they divide @var{number} by @var{divisor} and convert the result to an integer. If @var{divisor} is zero (whether integer or floating point), Emacs signals an @code{arith-error} error. @defun truncate number &optional divisor This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding towards zero. @example (truncate 1.2) @result{} 1 (truncate 1.7) @result{} 1 (truncate -1.2) @result{} -1 (truncate -1.7) @result{} -1 @end example @end defun @defun floor number &optional divisor This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding downward (towards negative infinity). If @var{divisor} is specified, this uses the kind of division operation that corresponds to @code{mod}, rounding downward. @example (floor 1.2) @result{} 1 (floor 1.7) @result{} 1 (floor -1.2) @result{} -2 (floor -1.7) @result{} -2 (floor 5.99 3) @result{} 1 @end example @end defun @defun ceiling number &optional divisor This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding upward (towards positive infinity). @example (ceiling 1.2) @result{} 2 (ceiling 1.7) @result{} 2 (ceiling -1.2) @result{} -1 (ceiling -1.7) @result{} -1 @end example @end defun @defun round number &optional divisor This returns @var{number}, converted to an integer by rounding towards the nearest integer. Rounding a value equidistant between two integers returns the even integer. @example (round 1.2) @result{} 1 (round 1.7) @result{} 2 (round -1.2) @result{} -1 (round -1.7) @result{} -2 @end example @end defun @node Arithmetic Operations @section Arithmetic Operations @cindex arithmetic operations Emacs Lisp provides the traditional four arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), as well as remainder and modulus functions, and functions to add or subtract 1. Except for @code{%}, each of these functions accepts both integer and floating-point arguments, and returns a floating-point number if any argument is floating point. @defun 1+ number-or-marker This function returns @var{number-or-marker} plus 1. For example, @example (setq foo 4) @result{} 4 (1+ foo) @result{} 5 @end example This function is not analogous to the C operator @code{++}---it does not increment a variable. It just computes a sum. Thus, if we continue, @example foo @result{} 4 @end example If you want to increment the variable, you must use @code{setq}, like this: @example (setq foo (1+ foo)) @result{} 5 @end example @end defun @defun 1- number-or-marker This function returns @var{number-or-marker} minus 1. @end defun @defun + &rest numbers-or-markers This function adds its arguments together. When given no arguments, @code{+} returns 0. @example (+) @result{} 0 (+ 1) @result{} 1 (+ 1 2 3 4) @result{} 10 @end example @end defun @defun - &optional number-or-marker &rest more-numbers-or-markers The @code{-} function serves two purposes: negation and subtraction. When @code{-} has a single argument, the value is the negative of the argument. When there are multiple arguments, @code{-} subtracts each of the @var{more-numbers-or-markers} from @var{number-or-marker}, cumulatively. If there are no arguments, the result is 0. @example (- 10 1 2 3 4) @result{} 0 (- 10) @result{} -10 (-) @result{} 0 @end example @end defun @defun * &rest numbers-or-markers This function multiplies its arguments together, and returns the product. When given no arguments, @code{*} returns 1. @example (*) @result{} 1 (* 1) @result{} 1 (* 1 2 3 4) @result{} 24 @end example @end defun @defun / number &rest divisors With one or more @var{divisors}, this function divides @var{number} by each divisor in @var{divisors} in turn, and returns the quotient. With no @var{divisors}, this function returns 1/@var{number}, i.e., the multiplicative inverse of @var{number}. Each argument may be a number or a marker. If all the arguments are integers, the result is an integer, obtained by rounding the quotient towards zero after each division. @example @group (/ 6 2) @result{} 3 @end group @group (/ 5 2) @result{} 2 @end group @group (/ 5.0 2) @result{} 2.5 @end group @group (/ 5 2.0) @result{} 2.5 @end group @group (/ 5.0 2.0) @result{} 2.5 @end group @group (/ 4.0) @result{} 0.25 @end group @group (/ 4) @result{} 0 @end group @group (/ 25 3 2) @result{} 4 @end group @group (/ -17 6) @result{} -2 @end group @end example @cindex @code{arith-error} in division If you divide an integer by the integer 0, Emacs signals an @code{arith-error} error (@pxref{Errors}). Floating-point division of a nonzero number by zero yields either positive or negative infinity (@pxref{Float Basics}). @end defun @defun % dividend divisor @cindex remainder This function returns the integer remainder after division of @var{dividend} by @var{divisor}. The arguments must be integers or markers. For any two integers @var{dividend} and @var{divisor}, @example @group (+ (% @var{dividend} @var{divisor}) (* (/ @var{dividend} @var{divisor}) @var{divisor})) @end group @end example @noindent always equals @var{dividend} if @var{divisor} is nonzero. @example (% 9 4) @result{} 1 (% -9 4) @result{} -1 (% 9 -4) @result{} 1 (% -9 -4) @result{} -1 @end example @end defun @defun mod dividend divisor @cindex modulus This function returns the value of @var{dividend} modulo @var{divisor}; in other words, the remainder after division of @var{dividend} by @var{divisor}, but with the same sign as @var{divisor}. The arguments must be numbers or markers. Unlike @code{%}, @code{mod} permits floating-point arguments; it rounds the quotient downward (towards minus infinity) to an integer, and uses that quotient to compute the remainder. If @var{divisor} is zero, @code{mod} signals an @code{arith-error} error if both arguments are integers, and returns a NaN otherwise. @example @group (mod 9 4) @result{} 1 @end group @group (mod -9 4) @result{} 3 @end group @group (mod 9 -4) @result{} -3 @end group @group (mod -9 -4) @result{} -1 @end group @group (mod 5.5 2.5) @result{} .5 @end group @end example For any two numbers @var{dividend} and @var{divisor}, @example @group (+ (mod @var{dividend} @var{divisor}) (* (floor @var{dividend} @var{divisor}) @var{divisor})) @end group @end example @noindent always equals @var{dividend}, subject to rounding error if either argument is floating point and to an @code{arith-error} if @var{dividend} is an integer and @var{divisor} is 0. For @code{floor}, see @ref{Numeric Conversions}. @end defun @node Rounding Operations @section Rounding Operations @cindex rounding without conversion The functions @code{ffloor}, @code{fceiling}, @code{fround}, and @code{ftruncate} take a floating-point argument and return a floating-point result whose value is a nearby integer. @code{ffloor} returns the nearest integer below; @code{fceiling}, the nearest integer above; @code{ftruncate}, the nearest integer in the direction towards zero; @code{fround}, the nearest integer. @defun ffloor float This function rounds @var{float} to the next lower integral value, and returns that value as a floating-point number. @end defun @defun fceiling float This function rounds @var{float} to the next higher integral value, and returns that value as a floating-point number. @end defun @defun ftruncate float This function rounds @var{float} towards zero to an integral value, and returns that value as a floating-point number. @end defun @defun fround float This function rounds @var{float} to the nearest integral value, and returns that value as a floating-point number. Rounding a value equidistant between two integers returns the even integer. @end defun @node Bitwise Operations @section Bitwise Operations on Integers @cindex bitwise arithmetic @cindex logical arithmetic In a computer, an integer is represented as a binary number, a sequence of @dfn{bits} (digits which are either zero or one). Conceptually the bit sequence is infinite on the left, with the most-significant bits being all zeros or all ones. A bitwise operation acts on the individual bits of such a sequence. For example, @dfn{shifting} moves the whole sequence left or right one or more places, reproducing the same pattern moved over. The bitwise operations in Emacs Lisp apply only to integers. @defun ash integer1 count @cindex arithmetic shift @code{ash} (@dfn{arithmetic shift}) shifts the bits in @var{integer1} to the left @var{count} places, or to the right if @var{count} is negative. Left shifts introduce zero bits on the right; right shifts discard the rightmost bits. Considered as an integer operation, @code{ash} multiplies @var{integer1} by @ifnottex 2**@var{count}, @end ifnottex @tex @math{2^{count}}, @end tex and then converts the result to an integer by rounding downward, toward minus infinity. Here are examples of @code{ash}, shifting a pattern of bits one place to the left and to the right. These examples show only the low-order bits of the binary pattern; leading bits all agree with the highest-order bit shown. As you can see, shifting left by one is equivalent to multiplying by two, whereas shifting right by one is equivalent to dividing by two and then rounding toward minus infinity. @example @group (ash 7 1) @result{} 14 ;; @r{Decimal 7 becomes decimal 14.} @dots{}000111 @result{} @dots{}001110 @end group @group (ash 7 -1) @result{} 3 @dots{}000111 @result{} @dots{}000011 @end group @group (ash -7 1) @result{} -14 @dots{}111001 @result{} @dots{}110010 @end group @group (ash -7 -1) @result{} -4 @dots{}111001 @result{} @dots{}111100 @end group @end example Here are examples of shifting left or right by two bits: @smallexample @group ; @r{ binary values} (ash 5 2) ; 5 = @r{@dots{}000101} @result{} 20 ; = @r{@dots{}010100} (ash -5 2) ; -5 = @r{@dots{}111011} @result{} -20 ; = @r{@dots{}101100} @end group @group (ash 5 -2) @result{} 1 ; = @r{@dots{}000001} @end group @group (ash -5 -2) @result{} -2 ; = @r{@dots{}111110} @end group @end smallexample @end defun @defun lsh integer1 count @cindex logical shift @code{lsh}, which is an abbreviation for @dfn{logical shift}, shifts the bits in @var{integer1} to the left @var{count} places, or to the right if @var{count} is negative, bringing zeros into the vacated bits. If @var{count} is negative, then @var{integer1} must be either a fixnum or a positive bignum, and @code{lsh} treats a negative fixnum as if it were unsigned by subtracting twice @code{most-negative-fixnum} before shifting, producing a nonnegative result. This quirky behavior dates back to when Emacs supported only fixnums; nowadays @code{ash} is a better choice. As @code{lsh} behaves like @code{ash} except when @var{integer1} and @var{count1} are both negative, the following examples focus on these exceptional cases. These examples assume 30-bit fixnums. @smallexample @group ; @r{ binary values} (ash -7 -1) ; -7 = @r{@dots{}111111111111111111111111111001} @result{} -4 ; = @r{@dots{}111111111111111111111111111100} (lsh -7 -1) @result{} 536870908 ; = @r{@dots{}011111111111111111111111111100} @end group @group (ash -5 -2) ; -5 = @r{@dots{}111111111111111111111111111011} @result{} -2 ; = @r{@dots{}111111111111111111111111111110} (lsh -5 -2) @result{} 268435454 ; = @r{@dots{}001111111111111111111111111110} @end group @end smallexample @end defun @defun logand &rest ints-or-markers This function returns the bitwise AND of the arguments: the @var{n}th bit is 1 in the result if, and only if, the @var{n}th bit is 1 in all the arguments. For example, using 4-bit binary numbers, the bitwise AND of 13 and 12 is 12: 1101 combined with 1100 produces 1100. In both the binary numbers, the leftmost two bits are both 1 so the leftmost two bits of the returned value are both 1. However, for the rightmost two bits, each is 0 in at least one of the arguments, so the rightmost two bits of the returned value are both 0. @noindent Therefore, @example @group (logand 13 12) @result{} 12 @end group @end example If @code{logand} is not passed any argument, it returns a value of @minus{}1. This number is an identity element for @code{logand} because its binary representation consists entirely of ones. If @code{logand} is passed just one argument, it returns that argument. @smallexample @group ; @r{ binary values} (logand 14 13) ; 14 = @r{@dots{}001110} ; 13 = @r{@dots{}001101} @result{} 12 ; 12 = @r{@dots{}001100} @end group @group (logand 14 13 4) ; 14 = @r{@dots{}001110} ; 13 = @r{@dots{}001101} ; 4 = @r{@dots{}000100} @result{} 4 ; 4 = @r{@dots{}000100} @end group @group (logand) @result{} -1 ; -1 = @r{@dots{}111111} @end group @end smallexample @end defun @defun logior &rest ints-or-markers This function returns the bitwise inclusive OR of its arguments: the @var{n}th bit is 1 in the result if, and only if, the @var{n}th bit is 1 in at least one of the arguments. If there are no arguments, the result is 0, which is an identity element for this operation. If @code{logior} is passed just one argument, it returns that argument. @smallexample @group ; @r{ binary values} (logior 12 5) ; 12 = @r{@dots{}001100} ; 5 = @r{@dots{}000101} @result{} 13 ; 13 = @r{@dots{}001101} @end group @group (logior 12 5 7) ; 12 = @r{@dots{}001100} ; 5 = @r{@dots{}000101} ; 7 = @r{@dots{}000111} @result{} 15 ; 15 = @r{@dots{}001111} @end group @end smallexample @end defun @defun logxor &rest ints-or-markers This function returns the bitwise exclusive OR of its arguments: the @var{n}th bit is 1 in the result if, and only if, the @var{n}th bit is 1 in an odd number of the arguments. If there are no arguments, the result is 0, which is an identity element for this operation. If @code{logxor} is passed just one argument, it returns that argument. @smallexample @group ; @r{ binary values} (logxor 12 5) ; 12 = @r{@dots{}001100} ; 5 = @r{@dots{}000101} @result{} 9 ; 9 = @r{@dots{}001001} @end group @group (logxor 12 5 7) ; 12 = @r{@dots{}001100} ; 5 = @r{@dots{}000101} ; 7 = @r{@dots{}000111} @result{} 14 ; 14 = @r{@dots{}001110} @end group @end smallexample @end defun @defun lognot integer This function returns the bitwise complement of its argument: the @var{n}th bit is one in the result if, and only if, the @var{n}th bit is zero in @var{integer}, and vice-versa. The result equals @minus{}1 @minus{} @var{integer}. @example (lognot 5) @result{} -6 ;; 5 = @r{@dots{}000101} ;; @r{becomes} ;; -6 = @r{@dots{}111010} @end example @end defun @cindex popcount @cindex Hamming weight @cindex counting set bits @defun logcount integer This function returns the @dfn{Hamming weight} of @var{integer}: the number of ones in the binary representation of @var{integer}. If @var{integer} is negative, it returns the number of zero bits in its two's complement binary representation. The result is always nonnegative. @example (logcount 43) ; 43 = @r{@dots{}000101011} @result{} 4 (logcount -43) ; -43 = @r{@dots{}111010101} @result{} 3 @end example @end defun @node Math Functions @section Standard Mathematical Functions @cindex transcendental functions @cindex mathematical functions @cindex floating-point functions These mathematical functions allow integers as well as floating-point numbers as arguments. @defun sin arg @defunx cos arg @defunx tan arg These are the basic trigonometric functions, with argument @var{arg} measured in radians. @end defun @defun asin arg The value of @code{(asin @var{arg})} is a number between @ifnottex @minus{}pi/2 @end ifnottex @tex @math{-\pi/2} @end tex and @ifnottex pi/2 @end ifnottex @tex @math{\pi/2} @end tex (inclusive) whose sine is @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is out of range (outside [@minus{}1, 1]), @code{asin} returns a NaN. @end defun @defun acos arg The value of @code{(acos @var{arg})} is a number between 0 and @ifnottex pi @end ifnottex @tex @math{\pi} @end tex (inclusive) whose cosine is @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is out of range (outside [@minus{}1, 1]), @code{acos} returns a NaN. @end defun @defun atan y &optional x The value of @code{(atan @var{y})} is a number between @ifnottex @minus{}pi/2 @end ifnottex @tex @math{-\pi/2} @end tex and @ifnottex pi/2 @end ifnottex @tex @math{\pi/2} @end tex (exclusive) whose tangent is @var{y}. If the optional second argument @var{x} is given, the value of @code{(atan y x)} is the angle in radians between the vector @code{[@var{x}, @var{y}]} and the @code{X} axis. @end defun @defun exp arg This is the exponential function; it returns @math{e} to the power @var{arg}. @end defun @defun log arg &optional base This function returns the logarithm of @var{arg}, with base @var{base}. If you don't specify @var{base}, the natural base @math{e} is used. If @var{arg} or @var{base} is negative, @code{log} returns a NaN. @end defun @defun expt x y This function returns @var{x} raised to power @var{y}. If both arguments are integers and @var{y} is nonnegative, the result is an integer; in this case, overflow signals an error, so watch out. If @var{x} is a finite negative number and @var{y} is a finite non-integer, @code{expt} returns a NaN. @end defun @defun sqrt arg This returns the square root of @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is finite and less than zero, @code{sqrt} returns a NaN. @end defun In addition, Emacs defines the following common mathematical constants: @defvar float-e The mathematical constant @math{e} (2.71828@dots{}). @end defvar @defvar float-pi The mathematical constant @math{pi} (3.14159@dots{}). @end defvar @node Random Numbers @section Random Numbers @cindex random numbers A deterministic computer program cannot generate true random numbers. For most purposes, @dfn{pseudo-random numbers} suffice. A series of pseudo-random numbers is generated in a deterministic fashion. The numbers are not truly random, but they have certain properties that mimic a random series. For example, all possible values occur equally often in a pseudo-random series. @cindex seed, for random number generation Pseudo-random numbers are generated from a @dfn{seed value}. Starting from any given seed, the @code{random} function always generates the same sequence of numbers. By default, Emacs initializes the random seed at startup, in such a way that the sequence of values of @code{random} (with overwhelming likelihood) differs in each Emacs run. The random seed is typically initialized from system entropy; however, on obsolescent platforms lacking entropy pools, the seed is taken from less-random volatile data such as the current time. Sometimes you want the random number sequence to be repeatable. For example, when debugging a program whose behavior depends on the random number sequence, it is helpful to get the same behavior in each program run. To make the sequence repeat, execute @code{(random "")}. This sets the seed to a constant value for your particular Emacs executable (though it may differ for other Emacs builds). You can use other strings to choose various seed values. @defun random &optional limit This function returns a pseudo-random integer. Repeated calls return a series of pseudo-random integers. If @var{limit} is a positive integer, the value is chosen to be nonnegative and less than @var{limit}. Otherwise, the value might be any fixnum, i.e., any integer from @code{most-negative-fixnum} through @code{most-positive-fixnum} (@pxref{Integer Basics}). If @var{limit} is a string, it means to choose a new seed based on the string's contents. This causes later calls to @code{random} to return a reproducible sequence of results. If @var{limit} is @code{t}, it means to choose a new seed as if Emacs were restarting. This causes later calls to @code{random} to return an unpredictable sequence of results. If you need a random nonce for cryptographic purposes, @code{(random t)} is typically not the best approach, as it can adversely affect other parts of your program that benefit from reproducible results, and it can leave information about the nonce scattered about Emacs's internal state. For nonces, it is typically better to use @code{make-nonce} (@pxref{Creating Strings}). @end defun