CM>        float temp=26.4;

CM>My system tells me the value is 2.639996E+01.  Now that's not a huge
CM>difference, I admit, but it's enough to really screw up my program.

Let me explain the reason for this.  The number 26.4 is a base 10 number
and can be expressed exactly in this base.  However, the computer is a
base 2 entity.  Base 2 numbers can be expressed exactly, but base 10
numbers must be approximated.  As you may be aware, base 2 numbers go up
in powers of 2.  They go 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.  As you may not be
aware, the base 2 fractions are also powers of 2.  They go 1, 1/2, 1/4,
1/8, 1/16, etc.  The number 26 can be expressed exactly in base 2 as
16 + 8 + 2.  However, the 0.4 part must be approximated.  The 0.4 is
equal to 4/10 or 2/5, neither of which is a base 2 number.  The closest
you will come is with 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/64 etc.  You will never find a
combination of base 2 fractions that will exactly equal 2/5.
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