Was FORTRAN buggy 4313

I'm no expert on floating-point routines, but I'm not altogether sure that the Fortran library didn't use tables of some sort.

FYI (espcially for Barb, who can' t conveniently "webbit"), here are the basic machine specs (nothing specific to the Fortran compiler, though),

Note 3 msec for an add, 28 msec for a multiply (done in hardware), 500 msec for a division (done in software). That's right: two entire divisions per second -- and I fear those are likely to be fixed-point divisions.

Also, table lookup isn't going to be exactly cheap at 6 msec (average) per memory access (and 0.1% of your total storage used up for every single-word table entry).

MONROBOT XI

Monroe Calculating Machine Mark XI MANUFACTURER Litton Industries Monroe Calculating Machine Division Photo by Monroe Calculating Machine Division APPLICATIONS The Monrobot Mark XI is a stored-program, general purpose electronic business computer capable of operation with a wide variety of input-output equip- ment. PROGRAMMING AND NUMERICAL SYSTEM Internal number system Binary Binary digits-word 32 including sign Binary digits-instruction 16 Instructions-word 2 Instructions decoded 27 Instructions used 27 Arithmetic system Fixed point; programmed floating point Instruction type One address Number range 0 to 231 - 1 or 0 to +- 109 or 0 to +- 2, 147, 483, 647 Instruction word format +---------------+-----------------+ 16 11 10 1 +---------------+-----------------+ Instruction Address +---------------+-----------------+ ARITHMETIC UNIT Incl. Stor. Access Exclud. Stor. Access Microsec Microsec Add 9,000 3,000 Mult 34,000 28,000 Div 500,000 500,000 Division is programmed. Construction (Arithmetic unit only) Transistors 190 Diodes 1,675 Arithmetic mode Serial Timing Synchronous Operation Sequential BRL 1961, MONROBOT XI, start page 0672

STORAGE No. of No. of Average Access Medium Words Digits Microsec Magnetic Drum 1,024 32,768 6,000

INPUT Media Speed Punched Paper Tape 20 char-sec Electric typewriter 10 char-sec 16-key numeric keyboard 10 char-sec 80-column card 16 col-sec Teletypewriter 10 char-sec The machine can accomodate any three of the above input devices simultaneously. Punched paper tape may be any code, 5 to 8 level. Quoted input and output speeds include conversion to and from binary as well as translation of any tape language to machine code. Higher speeds are possible using pure binary input and output.

OUTPUT Media Speed Punched Paper Tape 20 char-sec Electric Typewriter 10 char-sec 80-column Card 16 col-sec Teletypewriter 10 char-sec The machine can accomodate any three of the above output devices simultaneously. Punched paper tape may be any code, 5 to 8 level. CIRCUIT ELEMENTS OF ENTIRE SYSTEM Type Quanbreasty Tubes 5727 10 - 30 (10 tubes-output device) Diodes Primarily 1N636 2,300 Transistors Primarily 2N412 383 CHECKING FEATURES Parity check on input and output. Parity may be omitted. Action taken on parity failure depends upon program. With Teletype or other parity-less codes, parity is not used. POWER, SPACE, WEIGHT, AND SITE PREPARATION Power, computer 0.850 Kw 0.940 KVA 0.9 pf Volume, computer 48 cu ft Area, computer 15 sq ft Room size 10 ft x 10 ft Floor loading 30 lbs-sq ft 100 lbs concen max Weight, computer 375 lbs System requires 15 amp, 110 volt, AC, 60 cps line. PRODUCTION RECORD Number produced to date 7 Number in current operation 6 Time required for delivery 6 - 9 months

COST, PRICE AND RENTAL RATES Cost of computer with operator desk, 1 typewriter, 1 tape reader, and 1 tape punch $24,500 Additional Equipment 16-key numeric keyboard 300 Tape Reader 1,250 Tape Punch 700 Typewriter 2,350 Buffer for third device 600 Above prices are approximate. Monthly rental of computer with operator desk, 1 typewriter, 1 tape reader, and 1 tape punch, including service $700 Maintenance contracting is $1,200-year after 90-day service guarantee.

PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS Manufacturer makes a programmers' school available to users. One operator is required for each 8-hour shift. Virtually no operator training is required. RELIABILITY, OPERATING EXPERIENCE, AND TIME AVAILABILITY Conservative solid-state design buttures long life and wide margins under all but the most extreme operating conditions. Pluggable printed circuit boards provide trouble-free operation as well as ease of maintenance. Monrobot XI operates with full +-25% voltage margins at 110oF ambient. ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND REMARKS The Monrobot Mark XI accepts alpha-numeric information in any code from up to three independent input devices and can output information to any combination of three independent devices. System can simultaneously prepare independent output documents in any format, and can merge transaction and unit record input tapes in any format.

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