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Nomenclature and Types

In this manual, integer usually means a multiple precision integer, as defined by the GMP library. The C data type for such integers is mpz_t. Here are some examples of how to declare such integers: 

mpz_t sum;

struct foo { mpz_t x, y; };

mpz_t vec[20];

Rational number means a multiple precision fraction. The C data type for these fractions is mpq_t. For example: 

mpq_t quotient;

Floating point number or Float for short, is an arbitrary precision mantissa with a limited precision exponent. The C data type for such objects is mpf_t.

A limb means the part of a multi-precision number that fits in a single machine word. (We chose this word because a limb of the human body is analogous to a digit, only larger, and containing several digits.) Normally a limb is 32 or 64 bits. The C data type for a limb is mp_limb_t.