Why is Quant math implemented in Floating Point?

Posted by Moreton, Peter on
URL: http://quantlib.414.s1.nabble.com/Why-is-Quant-math-implemented-in-Floating-Point-tp4922.html

Hi,
 
I have a simple question, which I'm sure has a straightforward answer: Given that some of the commonly used Quant algorithms are quite compute intensive, especially the Monte-Carlo routines, why are they so frequently implemented using Floating point maths? - wouldn't these routines run much faster if coded using scaled-integers?
 
Peter Moreton
Getronics UK Ltd