gistfile1.txt

def gap_weight_for( age )
  difference = (value_of(age) - patient_age).abs
  ( difference * 0.1 ) ** 1.07
end

intermittently results in:

  in `**': #<Class:0x0000000a693110> can't be coerced into BigDecimal (TypeError)

def gap_weight_for( age )
  difference = (value_of(age) - patient_age).abs
  begin
    ( difference * 0.1 ) ** 1.07
  rescue => ex
    puts "#{difference.inspect} or #{(difference * 0.1).inspect} was a math problem."
  end
 end
   
results in:

    #<BigDecimal:12a1b168,'0.45E2',9(27)> or #<BigDecimal:12a33e70,'0.45E1',18(36)> was a math problem.

reproduction

@tries = 10000
@failures = []

@tries.times do |i|
  begin
    BigDecimal.new('2E0') ** 1.07
    putc '.'
  rescue
    putc 'x'
    @failures << i
  end
end

puts "Failed #{@failures.size} times out of #{@tries.to_s} tries."

result

...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................x..................................................................................................................................................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Failed 20 times out of 10000 times.