title: Scheme - "inexact" concept in R5RS numerical tower
body: <p>While thinking about the way to implement Scheme R5RS, I have become puzzled about the following extract of R5RS (pages 22-23):</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>(remainder -13 -4) ==> -1<br>
    <strong>(remainder -13 -4.0) ==> -1.0 ; inexact</strong></p>
    
    <p>(lcm 32 -36) ==> 288<br>
    <strong>(lcm 32.0 -36) ==> 288.0 ; inexact</strong></p>
    
    <p>(denominator (/ 6 4)) ==> 2<br>
    <strong>(denominator (exact->inexact (/ 6 4))) ==> 2.0</strong></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Should we understand that, even if -4.0, 32.0 and (exact->inexact (/ 6 4)) are inexact, the implementation shall "remember" their exact equivalent (-4, 32 and 3/2) in order to proceed to integer division, prime factors decomposition, etc?</p>
  
  <p>Otherwise, how could the implementation succeed in giving the above answers?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance for any light you could throw on this subject! :)</p>
  
  <p>Nicolas</p>