From: tkoenig@netcologne.de   
      
   Robert Finch  schrieb:   
   > Typical process for NaN boxing is to set the high order bits of the   
   > value which causes the value to appear to be a NaN at higher precision.   
   > I have been thinking about using some of the high order bits of the NaN   
   > (eg bits 32 to 51) to indicate the precision of the boxed value. This   
   > would allow detection of the use of a lower precision value in   
   > arithmetic. Suppose a convert from single to double precision is being   
   > done, but the value to be converted is only half precision.   
      
   Do you mean a type mismatch, a conversion, or digits lost due to   
   cancellation?   
      
   >If it were   
   > indicated by the NaN software might be able to fix the result.   
      
   Fixing a result after an NaN has occurred is too late, I think.   
      
   >I also   
   > preserve the sign bit of the number in the NaN box.   
      
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