Significant Digits

The number [Maple Math] approximates the number [Maple Math] to [Maple Math] significant digits if [Maple Math] is the largest non-negative number for which [Maple Math] . For example,

> pa;

[Maple Math]

> abs((p-pa)/p);

[Maple Math]

> 5.*10^(-3);

[Maple Math]

So this result is accurate to three significant digits. Compare this with a straight comparison of the two values:

> p;pa;

[Maple Math]

[Maple Math]