<mathematics> The fixed point of a function, f is any value, x
for which f x = x. A function may have any number of fixed
points from none (e.g. f x = x+1) to infinitely many (e.g. f x
= x). The fixed point combinator, written as either "fix"
or "Y" will return the fixed point of a function.
See also least fixed point.
(1995-04-13)
Nearby terms:
FIX « fix « fixed disk « fixed point » fixed-point » fixed point combinator » fixed-width
fixed-point definition
<programming> A number representation scheme where a number R
is represented by an integer N such that R=N*B, where B is
the (assumed) base of the representation.
On computers with no floating-point unit fixed-point
calculations can be significantly faster as all the operations
are basically integer operations. Apart from that,
fixed-point representation has the advantage of having uniform
density, i.e., the smallest resolvable difference of the
representation is B throughout the representable range, in
sharp contrast to floating-point representations.
(1998-05-18)
Nearby terms:
fix « fixed disk « fixed point « fixed-point » fixed point combinator » fixed-width » FIXME
