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pythonpython-2.7infinity

Represent infinity as an integer in Python 2.7

I am wondering how to define inf and -inf as an int in Python 2.7. I tried and it seems inf and -inf only work as a float. 

a = float('-inf') # works
b = float('inf') # works

c = int('-inf') # compile error, ValueError: invalid literal for int() with base 10: 'inf'
d = int('inf') # compile error, ValueError: invalid literal for int() with base 10: 'inf'
Solution

  • To summarise what was said in the comments

    There is no way to represent infinity as an integer in Python. This matches the behaviour of many other languages. However, due to Python's dynamic typing system, you can use float('inf') in place of an integer, and in most situations it will behave as you would expect.

    As far as creating a 'double' for infinity, in Python there is just one floating point type, called float, unlike other languages such as Java which uses the term float and double for floating point numbers with different precision. In Python, floating point numbers usually use double-precision, so they act the same as doubles in Java.