Division defaults to int when passed 2 ints.

This is the way that most programming languages work (C, C++, Java, Python, ...). It is a simple arithmetic conversion. In the cases you present it is a specific type of conversion called a binary numeric promotion). The result is that the type of the arguments control the type of the result.

While MonkeyC is a new language, its roots are from Java, Python, and Ruby, all of which have these rules.

Java
Python
Ruby

Given that MonkeyC is duck-typed, the actual type that is the result of the expression is hidden. If you want to be sure you get a value that isn't rounded down, you need to have at least one argument in the operation be of floating-point type.

Travis

OMG. I never realized you needed to be quite so specific. I would have though something like the following would have been safe.

double myNum = 2/3;


But alas no.... oh dear.

...... you need to have at least one argument in the operation be of floating-point type.

Although, doesn't this break that rule?
var precision = 1.1 * 0.6;
Sys.println("precision = " + precision);

var noPrecision = 1.1 * (2 / 3);
Sys.println("noPrecision = " + noPrecision);

precision = 0.660000
noPrecision = 0.000000

No, (2/3) is an integer division resulting in 0, the next step will be 1.1 * 0, which will result in a float -> 0.0

Sorry I explained only half of the problem (why you get a float when there is one or more floats involved). When both are integers you get an integer and the result is truncated because of integer division rules as pointed out by STEWA285.

Travis is correct that we are using similar rules as Ruby and Python. Here's a chart that explains the result type of a +-*/ operation. (I = int, F = float, L = long, D = double)

[FONT=Courier New]
x|I F L D
---------
I|I|F|L|D
F|F|F|D|D
L|L|D|L|D
D|D|D|D|D
[/FONT]

As Travis points out, because 2 / 3 is 0, it zeroes out your operation, but 2f / 3f would work.