ICC 11.1 libdecimal.a vs libimf.a

[rusty0412]

Hi,

I am wondering what is the difference between libdecimal.a and libimf.a?

While the link below is not an official Intel documentation, it states that libdecimal.a is Intel IEEE* 754-2008 decimal floating-point math library and libimf.a is Intel math library. I am wondering when would I want to link against one or the other?

http://www.fkf.mpg.de/edv/docs/intel_composer/Documentation/en_US/compiler_f/main_for/bldaps_for/common/bldaps_supplib_for.htm

Thanks

[mecej4]

Binary floating point arithmetic is better supported on current hardware and is fine for scientific work. Unless you know that you require decimal floating point arithmetic (e.g., in commercial, banking, etc. applications), you need not concern yourself with libdecimal.a.