From: Ohad Lutzky <lutzky@...>
Date: 2006-05-25T14:06:18+09:00
Subject: Re: greatest float smaller than 1.0?

polypus wrote:
> thanks everyone for your advice

By the way, the problem in your question lies with calculus. Fact is, in 
reality, there IS no 'smallest real number greater than 1'. (not even 
for rational numbers). Here's proof: Say someone gives you a number x 
which they claim is such a number. Then consider

  h = (1 + x) / 2

h is smaller than x, but still bigger than 1. So you can always keep 
getting closer to 1, and no number will be 'smallest'.

As such, the answer you got from everyone was 'what is the smallest 
number that my computer will CONSIDER to be greater than one'? And that 
depends on your computer. This is why the Epsilon answer works best.


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