3.2 Nomenclature and Types

In this manual, integer usually means a multiple precision integer, as defined by the GMP library. The C data type for such integers is mpz_t. Here are some examples of how to declare such integers:

     mpz_t sum;
     
     struct foo { mpz_t x, y; };
     
     mpz_t vec[20];

Rational number means a multiple precision fraction. The C data type for these fractions is mpq_t. For example:

     mpq_t quotient;

Floating point number or Float for short, is an arbitrary precision mantissa with a limited precision exponent. The C data type for such objects is mpf_t. For example:

     mpf_t fp;

The floating point functions accept and return exponents in the C type mp_exp_t. Currently this is usually a long, but on some systems it's an int for efficiency.

A limb means the part of a multi-precision number that fits in a single machine word. (We chose this word because a limb of the human body is analogous to a digit, only larger, and containing several digits.) Normally a limb is 32 or 64 bits. The C data type for a limb is mp_limb_t.

Counts of limbs are represented in the C type mp_size_t. Currently this is normally a long, but on some systems it's an int for efficiency.

Random state means an algorithm selection and current state data. The C data type for such objects is gmp_randstate_t. For example:

     gmp_randstate_t rstate;

Also, in general unsigned long is used for bit counts and ranges, and size_t is used for byte or character counts.