Extra parenthesis changing result of formula in SQL Server 2008

Question

In all other languages (arithmetic engines in general) putting an extra set of parenthesis around operators of same priority does not impact results. But recently in a testing project I noticed that MS SQL server changes the results in those cases. Please take a look at the query below, and let me know if you have any idea (or a setting in SQL Server administration) or any links to MSDN article explaining the behavior.

select (0.55 * 287.61 / 0.66) calc_no_parens
,(0.55 * (287.61 / 0.66)) calc_parens
,round(0.55 * 287.61 / 0.66,2) no_paren_round
,round(0.55 * (287.61 / 0.66),2) paren_round;

Results

Column  Record 1
calc_no_parens  239.6750000
calc_parens     239.67499985
no_paren_round  239.6800000
paren_round     239.67000000

To me, first two of them should return 239.675, and round should give 239.68.

Answer 1

You will get the desired result if you declare each value as Float.

DECLARE @Float1 float, @Float2 float, @Float3 float;
SET @Float1 = 0.55;
SET @Float2 = 287.61;
SET @Float3 = 0.66;

select (@Float1 * @Float2 / @Float3) calc_no_parens
,(@Float1* (@Float2/ @Float3)) calc_parens
,round(@Float1 * @Float2/ @Float3,2) no_paren_round
,round(@Float1* (@Float2/ @Float3),2) paren_round;

Output

calc_no_parens  calc_parens no_paren_round  paren_round
239.675          239.675    239.68           239.68

You may want to see this article: So-called "exact" numerics are not at all exact!