Arbitrary precision arithmatic with pgsql

Hi,

The docs says that numeric type supports numbers upto
any precision

<docs>
8.1.2. Arbitrary Precision NumbersThe type numeric can store numbers with up to 1000 digits of precision 
and perform calculations exactly. It is especially recommended for 
storing monetary amounts and other quantities where exactness is 
required. However, the numeric type is very slow compared to the 
floating-point types described in the next section.
</docs>


However

tradein_clients=# SELECT  cast(2^100 as numeric);
+---------------------------------+
|             numeric             |
+---------------------------------+
| 1267650600228230000000000000000 |
+---------------------------------+
(1 row)
Time: 1036.063 ms

Naturally there is a loss of information here. So my question is

1. Does the specs not require pgsql to print a warning or info ,  will it not be considered silient truncation of
data.

2. Is there any way to do such calculation using pgsql, i understand  bc is a better tool for it.

Warm Regards
Rajesh Kumar Mallah.

-- 

regds
Mallah.

Rajesh Kumar Mallah
+---------------------------------------------------+
| Tradeindia.com  (3,11,246) Registered Users         | 
| Indias' Leading B2B eMarketPlace                  |
| http://www.tradeindia.com/                |
+---------------------------------------------------+