C needs BCD

[GEACC022%TIMEVX%CITHEX at lbl.arpa]

Received: from timevx by cithex with DECNET ; Fri, 23 Nov 84 03:21:28 PST
Date:     Fri, 23 Nov 84 03:22:27 PST
From:     geacc022 (gary e. ansok) @ timevx
Message-Id: <841123032155.001 at timevx>
Subject:  Re: C needs BCD
To:       info-c @ BRL-TGR.ARPA
 
][ is possibly a trademark of the Apple people
 
>> 
>>     space
>> 	There are a few cases where BCD actually uses less space than
>> 	simple binary: on most machines, +/-99,999 requires you to go
>> 	from 16 to 32 bits, but it fits in 6 bytes of BCD.
>>
>
>Uh, 6 bytes equals 48 bits on most machines.  
 
    I think he meant 6 nibbles = 3 bytes = 24 bits.
 
-----
All the world loves a straight man.
 
Gary Ansok
geacc022%timevx%cithex @ lbl-g.arpa