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Why does

N[Log[10, 6613], 20] give the requested 20 digits of precision

(* $3.8203985227039816648$ *)

but

N[Log[10, 6613.3], 20] does not?

(* $3.82042$ *)

The documentation for Log states:

"The precision of the output tracks the precision of the input" so one might expect more digits in the output for the latter case.

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    $\begingroup$ In addition to what sacratus said: Log[10, 6613.3] immediately evaluates to 3.82042, then N[..., 20] is applied only afterwards. N won't influence the calculation of the logarithm. Try Log[10, 6613.3`20]. This also evaluates immediately, but since it starts with an arbitrary precision (not machine precision) number, precision tracking kicks in. Thus the result will not have a precision of exactly 20, but it will be close. $\endgroup$
    – Szabolcs
    Commented Apr 8, 2015 at 0:14

1 Answer 1

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Observe

In:

Precision[6613]

Out:

Infinity

In:

Precision[6613.3]

Out:

MachinePrecision

The first number is an integer and has infinite precision the second number is a numerical value that is represented with a finite precision.

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