Lazy algorithms for exact real arithmetic

In this article we propose a new representation for the real numbers. This representation can be conveniently used to implement exact real number computation with a lazy programming languages. In fact the new representation permits the exploitation of hardware implementation of arithmetic functions without generating the granularity problem. Moreover we present a variation of the Karatsuba algorithm for multiplication of integers. The new algorithm performs exact real number multiplication in a lazy way and has a lower complexity than the standard algorithm. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.