Factorio Forums

why: so one can better recognize/confirm if the value is an exact fraction, like:

Examples:
0.13 --> 0.125 (1/8)
0.13 --> 0.133 (1/7.5)
0.14 --> 0.143 (1/7)
0.14 --> 0.140 (actual 0.14, which for instance happens with a 0.1/s recipe when adding 2 speed modules)

Also the very small production/s values on the slower recipes would benefit from a bit more precision:

0.02 --> could be anywhere between 0.015-0.024, quite a difference
0.03 --> Is often actually exactly 0.025?
0.08 --> is it 0.080 (1/12,5)? or 0.083 (1/12)?

This could be a setting in settings menu. The current system of omitting trailing zeros can be kept (so precisely 1/s will still be displayed as 1/s instead of 1.000/s, which I believe is how it currently works with the 2-digit precision already?) Heck, that could also be a toggleable setting! You know what, why not make the desired number of precision digits a setting as well then! Ok I'll stop now

. .

Factorio uses 64-bit Signed Integers internally, so it is inherently impossible to get an "exact" Decimal conversion, especially once Beacons' non-linear effects are included. I have given-up trying to do any of the Math mentally since 2.0 released - especially with Belt Stacking, too many numbers for me!


Rate Calculator displays a third digit, which is helpful but still not "exact".

eugenekay wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:21 pm Factorio uses 64-bit Signed Integers internally, so it is inherently impossible to get an "exact" Decimal conversion

That has nothing to do with the question. The decimal number OP is mentioning is already a calculated number rounded to 2 decimals. It is exactly as exact or not exact as the same number with 2 decimals. Furthermore, we talk about items/second. You would probably have to play nonstop for months to really notice a deviation of 1 item between theory and practice.

CheeseMcBurger wrote: Mon Jun 30, 2025 8:53 pmThat has nothing to do with the question. The decimal number OP is mentioning is already a calculated number rounded to 2 decimals. It is exactly as exact or not exact as the same number with 2 decimals. Furthermore, we talk about items/second. You would probably have to play nonstop for months to really notice a deviation of 1 item between theory and practice.

“Exact” is doing a lot of heavy lifting It is indeed possible to get a fairly good mapping of values between Integers-wearing-a-hat-disguised-as-Floats (which is what Factorio uses) and actually 64-Bit Floating Point Numbers for “only 2 or 3 digits”… but this is not a computer science class. The game’s numbers were never Fraction-exact to begin with; a third Digit will not help with that goal.