Posit and decimal conversion semantics #
Decimal destinations inherit the shared projection's validity, error and directed enclosure guarantees. Posit destinations equal the standard signed real-rounding specification for every finite decimal input, including saturation and nonzero underflow. No intermediate binary format is involved.
A finite posit is converted by decimal projection of its exact rational value.
Every posit conversion produces a valid destination datum.
Posit zero becomes positive decimal zero, with preferred quantum zero clamped to the destination quantum range.
When quantum zero is available, posit zero converts to positive decimal zero there.
NaR becomes a quiet, zero-payload decimal NaN, with no IEEE exception raised.
A nonoverflowing nearest decimal conversion has at most half a grid unit of error.
In any rounding direction a nonoverflowing conversion changes the value by less than one decimal grid unit.
Upward posit-to-decimal conversion encloses the exact posit value.
Downward posit-to-decimal conversion encloses the exact posit value.
Without overflow, inexact is exactly a changed rational value.
Decimal underflow is precisely an inexact tiny input when overflow is absent.
Decimal NaNs, whether signaling or quiet, convert to NaR.
Either signed decimal infinity converts to NaR.
Both decimal zero signs and every zero cohort convert to the unique posit zero.
Every finite decimal datum has exact single-rounding posit semantics. This includes range saturation and the standard nonzero-underflow rule without additional hypotheses.
Changing a decimal cohort does not change its posit conversion.