int, float, for loop question

[MisterClemens]

I am trying to write a program that satisfies these conditions:

Write a program that will find and output the smallest positive integer float value x for which the
Boolean expression
x == x + (1.0 / n)
is true for some positive int variable n.

However, i don't want anyone to write the program for me, i just want to understand what this program is asking, can someone please clarify this?

 

[cpjust]

integer float value" is an oxymoron. Integers are whole numbers, while floating point numbers are fractional.

I'm not a math expert, but I can't see how that equation can ever be true. The only way it could be true is if n = 0, which it can't if the question states that n is a positive number.

 

[Salem]

Basically, you're trying to determine epsilon

http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/floating_point/understanding_floating_point_representation.html

Specifically, there is a constant in float.h called FLT_EPSILON which is the answer to your question for when x == 1

Because floats a finite approximations, adding sufficiently small values to a larger number has no effect.

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