From: "Gary Wiltshire" 

On Fri, 10 Dec 2004 04:17:30 GMT, John Beckett
 wrote:

> "Geo"  wrote in message
news::
>> > The reasoning is that computer hardware is capable of integer
>> operations
>> > AND floating point operations, and they are different.
>>
>> Are they done in different parts of the cpu?
>
> Yes. Using historic terminology, integer arithmetic is performed in the
> ALU, and floating point arithmetic is performed in the FPU (or in
> software
> if using some obsolete systems).
>
> ALU = arithmetic/logic unit
> FPU = floating point unit (was an optional chip (80387) years ago)
>
Goes back further that that (8087).
--
Gary Wiltshire

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