The reason is not to glorify bit chasing; a more fundamental issue is at stake here: Numerical subroutines should deliver results that satisfy simple, useful mathematical laws whenever possible. [...] Without any underlying symmetry properties, the job of proving interesting results becomes extremely unpleasant. The enjoyment of one's tools is an essential ingredient of successful work.
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About Donald Knuth
Donald Knuth was a contemporary American computer scientist and mathematician. Donald Ervin Knuth is an American computer scientist and mathematician. He is a professor emeritus at Stanford University. Read more on Wikipedia →