Question

The following code produces the shown output and I’m confused … I’m using Intel compiler version 2013 beta update 2 /opt/intel/composer_xe_2013.0.030/bin/intel64/icpc:

// all good
int64_t fops_count1 = 719508467815;
long double fops_count2 = boost::static_cast<long double>(fops_count1);
printf("%" PRIu64 "\n", fops_count1); // OK outputs 719508467815
printf("%Le\n", fops_count2);         // OK outputs 7.195085e+11

// bad! why this?
int64_t fops_count1 = 18446743496931269238;
long double fops_count2 = boost::static_cast<long double>(fops_count1);
printf("%" PRIu64 "\n", fops_count1); // OK outputs 18446743496931269238
printf("%Le\n", fops_count2);         // FAIL outputs -5.767783e+11 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< WHY?

Answer 1

Ignoring the boost::static_cast, which I don’t understand, a 64-bit signed integer can’t represent the number you showed, but

18446743496931269238 – 2⁶⁴ = -576778282378

I.e. this is the value you get when a two’s complement 64-bit signed integer wraps around.

Now what’s that boost::static_cast?