How to convert any type of Number into BigDecimal without toString()?

Question

I'm using now this method, to execute addition on any type of Number:

public <T extends Number> CustomNumber add(T a, T b) {
    BigDecimal numberA = new BigDecimal(b.toString());
    BigDecimal numberB = new BigDecimal(a.toString());
    return new CustomNumber<>(numberA.add(numberB));
}

I'm using BigDecimal, because as far as I know this is the best solution, to execute precize calculations. How can I change this method, to achieve the same result without the toString() method? CustomNumber is the class I'm using to store numeric values.

Java _really, really_ won't let you try to generalize over `Number` types like this. Give up and pick one `Number` type to use throughout your program. — Louis Wasserman, Mar 16 '17 at 16:16

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 16 '17 at 16:10

1

I wouldn't risk it, particularly if you want to construct a BigDecimal from a floating point type.

In the most general case, construction from a String is the safest way. Always take the requisite amount of care with locale-dependent decimal separators.

answered Mar 16 '17 at 16:10

Bathsheba

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How to convert any type of Number into BigDecimal without toString()?

1 Answers1