── ENTIER ── ( ──<arithmetic expression>── ) ──────────────────────────┤

The ENTIER function returns the largest integer that is not greater than the value of the arithmetic expression.

Because of the limitations of finite representation arithmetic, the ENTIER function erroneously returns 0, rather than -1, for negative numbers of small magnitude. For a single-precision expression, the threshold is -0.5 * 8**-13 (approximately -9.09E-13). This number correctly yields -1, whereas the next smaller (in magnitude) single-precision number incorrectly yields 0. For a double-precision expression, the threshold can differ on various systems because of different algorithms for double-precision rounding, but it is in the vicinity of -8**-26 (approximately -3.31E-24).

The ENTIER function returns an incorrect result for single-precision, negative integers less than or equal to -(8**32). The result of the function for an integer expression should be equal to the value of the expression. However, ENTIER (-68719476736) returns a value of -68719476737.

The ENTIER function is not a simple truncation function, as illustrated by the examples. For a simple truncation function, see INTEGERT Function..

Examples of the ENTIER Function

ENTIER(2.6) = 2
ENTIER(3.1) = 3
ENTIER(-0.01) = -1
ENTIER(-3.4) = -4
ENTIER(-1.8) = -2