bignum

A Python module for representing and computing with extremely large or extremely small numbers using a structured scientific-notation system instead of native numeric types.

Unlike standard floats or integers, bignum stores numbers as dictionaries containing sign, mantissa, exponent, exponent sign, magnitude layer, and imaginary flag. This allows it to represent values far beyond Python’s built-in numeric limits while still supporting arithmetic and mathematical functions.

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Features

• Arbitrary-scale number representation
• Supports exponent layers (e, ee, eee, …)
• Arithmetic operations
• Logarithms and exponentials
• Roots and powers
• Factorials
• Imaginary number support
• Configurable precision
• Safe mode for preventing expensive operations

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Number Format

Each number is stored internally as:

{
  'sign': '+' | '-',
  'mantissa': float,
  'exponent': int,
  'exponentsign': '+' | '-',
  'magnitude': int,
  'imaginary': bool
}

Example:

1e10 → +1.0e10
1ee10 → +1.0ee10

Magnitude represents repeated exponent layers.

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Installation

pip install bignum

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Quick Example

from bignum import *

a = fromInteger(4000)
b = fromInteger(200)

print(toScientific(addBignum(a, b)))

Output:

+4.2e3

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Supported Operations

Arithmetic

• addBignum
• subBignum
• multBignum
• divBignum

Math Functions

• lnBignum
• Log10
• Logx
• expBignum
• sqrtBignum
• cubrtBignum
• nthrtBignum
• factBignum

Utilities

• compareBignum
• roundBignum
• floorBignum
• absBignum
• recipBignum
• isZero

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Configuration

The module includes configurable globals:

Variable	Description
SF	Significant figures (default 5)
SafeMode	Prevents very expensive calculations

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Limitations

• toInteger() only converts values between 1e-10 and 1e10.
• Precision depends on floating-point mantissa accuracy.
• Some operations are restricted when SafeMode is enabled.

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Use Cases

bignum is useful for:

• Scientific experimentation
• Simulating extreme growth systems
• Studying large exponent structures
• Mathematical modeling beyond float limits

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License

See LICENSE.txt for details.