Electrical
and Computer Engineering
4 of 12
UAH
CPE 112
Practical Implications of
Limited Precision
Limited Precision
•Limited precision has
led to
–Mercury splashdown in unknown location, delaying the recovery of the spacecraft and the astronaut.
–Specialized
high-tension cables linking a hydroelectric dam to the nearest power distribution point had to be redone due to precision problems.
–A bank employee stole
infinitesimal amounts from a large number
of accounts.