Thanks! Determine εmatch by finding smallest ε = 2^(-k)?

I'm new to Matlab, and our teacher asks us to determine εmatch by finding the smallest ε = 2^(-k), k is natural number for which (1+ε)-1 is non-zero. Specify the reported values of (1+ε)-1 for several larger and smaller values of ε = 2^(-k).

Please give some hints. Thank you for your help. :)

btw, does ε mean "error" here?

Answer 1

[Roger Stafford]

Writing code to determine that should be rather easy. Use a while-loop to repeatedly test whether (1+2^(-k))-1 is non-zero as the integer k increases in size. (The parentheses here are important.) Have the while loop quit when this quantity comes out an exact zero. The previous k gives you your answer. Piece of cake!