From: Michael Morin <uzimonkey@...>
Date: 2008-11-10T16:28:05+09:00
Subject: Re: what's easiest way to compare a Float & BigDecimal (i.e. like a equals mechanism)

Greg Hauptmann wrote:
> oh so convert the BigDecimal to a float by multiplying by 1.0 you mean first?
> 
> On Sun, Nov 9, 2008 at 6:12 AM, pen <pyeniemi@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Nov 8, 8:26 am, Greg Hauptmann <greg.hauptmann.r...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> what's easiest way to compare a Float & BigDecimal (i.e. like a equals
>>> mechanism)?  It seems that "==" does NOT work as they are different
>>> types.  Is there a way to do a comparison without having to convert
>>> types?
>> Actually, there is none. Why don't you just let Ruby do the job and
>> multiply the bigdecimal with 1.0 when comparing? Also, as previously
>> noted, == operator with floats is not ... reliable.
>>
>> br,
>>
>>  pen
>>
>>
> 

BigDecimal objects should have a to_f method.  Using that would probably 
be more clear than multiplying by 1.0 (a seamingly meaningless thing to do).