In order to handle number atoms efficiently as values within the LISP interpreter, we have used pointers to numbers in sketching the working of the v operator. This use of pointers is also required to allow functions to be treated as values. The guiding idea is that the LISP interpreter needs to know, at least potentially, the name or lexical expression associated with any value being manipulated, and every such value is represented by a typed-pointer to some complete representation of that value.
In particular, then, a number must be represented in a way that permits ...
