RE: error using number()

> However, I regularly write the following:
> 
> number($x + 7)
> 
> This has not given me any errors and passed by fine in SAXON 7.
> 

There's nothing wrong with this, but it's unnecessary. If $x is an integer,
the result of the addition is an integer, and the number() function changes
it to a double, which prevents it being used in certain contexts that
require an integer, for example "1 to $x". An integer can be used anywhere
that a double is allowed, so converting an integer to a double is never
necessary.

Michael Kay