Apropos

=, /=, <, >, <=, >=Function

    Syntax

    = &rest numbers+ generalized-boolean

    /= &rest numbers+ generalized-boolean

    < &rest numbers+ generalized-boolean

    > &rest numbers+ generalized-boolean

    <= &rest numbers+ generalized-boolean

    >= &rest numbers+ generalized-boolean

    Arguments and Values

    number — for <, >, <=, >=: a real; for =, /=: a number.

    generalized-boolean — a generalized boolean.

    Description

    =, /=, <, >, <=, and >= perform arithmetic comparisons on their arguments as follows:

    =

    The value of = is true if all numbers are the same in value; otherwise it is false. Two complexes are considered equal by = if their real and imaginary parts are equal according to =.

    /=

    The value of /= is true if no two numbers are the same in value; otherwise it is false.

    <

    The value of < is true if the numbers are in monotonically increasing order; otherwise it is false.

    >

    The value of > is true if the numbers are in monotonically decreasing order; otherwise it is false.

    <=

    The value of <= is true if the numbers are in monotonically nondecreasing order; otherwise it is false.

    >=

    The value of >= is true if the numbers are in monotonically nonincreasing order; otherwise it is false.

    =, /=, <, >, <=, and >= perform necessary type conversions.

    Examples

    The uses of these functions are illustrated in Figure 12–13.

    (= 3 3) is true. (/= 3 3) is false.
    (= 3 5) is false. (/= 3 5) is true.
    (= 3 3 3 3) is true. (/= 3 3 3 3) is false.
    (= 3 3 5 3) is false. (/= 3 3 5 3) is false.
    (= 3 6 5 2) is false. (/= 3 6 5 2) is true.
    (= 3 2 3) is false. (/= 3 2 3) is false.
    (< 3 5) is true. (<= 3 5) is true.
    (< 3 -5) is false. (<= 3 -5) is false.
    (< 3 3) is false. (<= 3 3) is true.
    (< 0 3 4 6 7) is true. (<= 0 3 4 6 7) is true.
    (< 0 3 4 4 6) is false. (<= 0 3 4 4 6) is true.
    (> 4 3) is true. (>= 4 3) is true.
    (> 4 3 2 1 0) is true. (>= 4 3 2 1 0) is true.
    (> 4 3 3 2 0) is false. (>= 4 3 3 2 0) is true.
    (> 4 3 1 2 0) is false. (>= 4 3 1 2 0) is false.
    (= 3) is true. (/= 3) is true.
    (< 3) is true. (<= 3) is true.
    (= 3.0 #c(3.0 0.0)) is true. (/= 3.0 #c(3.0 1.0)) is true.
    (= 3 3.0) is true. (= 3.0s0 3.0d0) is true.
    (= 0.0 -0.0) is true. (= 5/2 2.5) is true.
    (> 0.0 -0.0) is false. (= 0 -0.0) is true.
    (<= 0 x 9) is true if x is between 0 and 9, inclusive
    (< 0.0 x 1.0) is true if x is between 0.0 and 1.0, exclusive
    (< -1 j (length v)) is true if j is a valid array index for a vector v
    Figure 12–13. Uses of /=, =, <, >, <=, and >=
    Exceptional Situations

    Might signal type-error if some argument is not a real. Might signal arithmetic-error if otherwise unable to fulfill its contract.

    Notes

    = differs from eql in that (= 0.0 -0.0) is always true, because = compares the mathematical values of its operands, whereas eql compares the representational values, so to speak.