float.Parse returns incorrect value [duplicate]

Question

I have a string X with value 2.26

when I parse it using float.Parse(X) ..it returns 2.2599999904632568. Why so? And how to overcome this ?

But if instead I use double.Parse(X) it returns the exact value, i.e. 2.26.

EDIT: Code

float.Parse(dgvItemSelection[Quantity.Index, e.RowIndex].Value.ToString());

Thanks for help

Answer 1

This is due to limitations in the precision of floating point numbers. They can't represent infinitely precise values and often resort to approximate values. If you need highly precise numbers you should be using Decimal instead.

There is a considerable amount of literature on this subject that you should take a look at. My favorite resource is the following

• What Every Computer Scientist Should Know About Floating Point

Answer 2

Because floats don't properly represent decimal values in base 10.

Use a Decimal instead if you want an exact representation.

Jon Skeet on this topic