An interesing post by Laurent. Check out http://laurentschneider.com/wordpress/2007/06/to-divide-or-to-multiply.html

My findings on 10gR2 on Windoze XP

SQL> var z numberSQL> var y numberSQL> exec :z := power(2,102)*2e-31;

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SQL> exec :y := 1e125;

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SQL> set timi onSQL> exec while (:y>1e-125) loop :y:=:y/:z; end loop

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Elapsed: 00:00:00.10SQL> set timi offSQL> print y

      Y----------9.988E-126

SQL> exec :z := power(2,-104)*2e31;

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SQL> exec :y := 1e125;

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SQL> set timi onSQL> exec while (:y>1e-125) loop :y:=:y*:z; end loop

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

Elapsed: 00:00:00.04SQL> set timi offSQL> print y

      Y----------9.988E-126

SQL>

Sidhu