precision of calculations

[Robert Butora]

Does anybody know how the precision of calculation 
(not output_precision !) is controlled in Octave ?

I've calculated some matrix where I expected results
to be 1 or 0. Instead of 0 I've got values in order
of 1e-16 ... 1e-18. 

Should I chase an error in my calculation or does it
have something to do with precision of calc. ?

Could anybody give some general thoughts on precision in Octave ?

Thanks 
Robert



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