From 66cb7d4bd8a832ab7f645ab3af23a8917c9d273d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Raymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 20:09:43 +0000
Subject: Simplify float conversion recipe.

---
 Doc/library/decimal.rst | 46 ++++++++++++++++++----------------------------
 1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 28 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Doc/library/decimal.rst b/Doc/library/decimal.rst
index f59689f..3c3e613 100644
--- a/Doc/library/decimal.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/decimal.rst
@@ -1516,39 +1516,29 @@ Q. Is there a way to convert a regular float to a :class:`Decimal`?
 
 A. Yes, all binary floating point numbers can be exactly expressed as a
 Decimal.  An exact conversion may take more precision than intuition would
-suggest, so trapping :const:`Inexact` will signal a need for more precision::
-
-   def floatToDecimal(f):
-       "Convert a floating point number to a Decimal with no loss of information"
-       # Transform (exactly) a float to a mantissa (0.5 <= abs(m) < 1.0) and an
-       # exponent.  Double the mantissa until it is an integer.  Use the integer
-       # mantissa and exponent to compute an equivalent Decimal.  If this cannot
-       # be done exactly, then retry with more precision.
-
-       mantissa, exponent = math.frexp(f)
-       while mantissa != int(mantissa):
-           mantissa *= 2.0
-           exponent -= 1
-       mantissa = int(mantissa)
-
-       oldcontext = getcontext()
-       setcontext(Context(traps=[Inexact]))
-       try:
-           while True:
-               try:
-                  return mantissa * Decimal(2) ** exponent
-               except Inexact:
-                   getcontext().prec += 1
-       finally:
-           setcontext(oldcontext)
-
-Q. Why isn't the :func:`floatToDecimal` routine included in the module?
+suggest, so we trap :const:`Inexact` to signal a need for more precision::
+
+    def float_to_decimal(f):
+        "Convert a floating point number to a Decimal with no loss of information"
+        n, d = f.as_integer_ratio()
+        with localcontext() as ctx:
+            ctx.traps[Inexact] = True
+            while True:
+                try:
+                   return Decimal(n) / Decimal(d)
+                except Inexact:
+                    ctx.prec += 1
+
+    >>> float_to_decimal(math.pi)
+    Decimal("3.141592653589793115997963468544185161590576171875")
+
+Q. Why isn't the :func:`float_to_decimal` routine included in the module?
 
 A. There is some question about whether it is advisable to mix binary and
 decimal floating point.  Also, its use requires some care to avoid the
 representation issues associated with binary floating point::
 
-   >>> floatToDecimal(1.1)
+   >>> float_to_decimal(1.1)
    Decimal("1.100000000000000088817841970012523233890533447265625")
 
 Q. Within a complex calculation, how can I make sure that I haven't gotten a
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