[R] scan seems to modify the data

[Stephane DRAY]

Hello list,
I have used scan function to import data into R. I have done some analysis 
and find strange results. I have found my problem : when importing data 
with scan, this can slightly modify the data :

 > write(c(0.251,3.399,-0.481,0.266),"essai.txt")
 > scan("essai.txt")
Read 4 items
[1]  0.251  3.399 -0.481  0.266
 > print(scan("essai.txt"),17)
Read 4 items
[1]  0.25100000000000000  3.39900000000000000 
-0.48099999999999998  0.26600000000000001



Is it normal ? Is it a bug ?
thanks in advance,
Sincerely.


 > version
          _
platform i386-pc-mingw32
arch     i386
os       mingw32
system   i386, mingw32
status
major    1
minor    8.1
year     2003
month    11
day      21
language R
Stéphane DRAY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Département des Sciences Biologiques
Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale centre-ville
Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada

Tel : 514 343 6111 poste 1233
E-mail : stephane.dray at umontreal.ca
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

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