Why is this code's execution speed so different?
<p>In <strong>Internet Explorer 7</strong>, this code executes consistently in <strong>47</strong> ms:</p>

<pre><code>function updateObjectValues() {    
    $('.objects').html(12345678); // ~500 DIVs
}
</code></pre>

<p>however, this code executes consistently in <strong>157</strong> ms:</p>

<pre><code>function updateObjectValues() {
    $('.objects').html('12345678'); // ~500 DIVs
}
</code></pre>

<p>Passing a number is over 3x faster than a string. Why are these results so dramatically different? And, is there any way to help the performance of the string?</p>
