Is Multiplying the Inverse Better or Worse?

Question

When dealing with double data types is multiplying by the inverse better or worse?

Which way is faster? Which way uses

Answer 1

from my VB code timer

Dim SquareInches As Double
Dim MMSquared As Double = 81
Const d As Double = 645.16
Const m As Double = 1 / 645.16
Private Function TestCase1() As Boolean 'One
    'Test One Code Here
    SquareInches = MMSquared / d
    'end test code
    Return True
End Function
Private Function TestCase2() As Boolean 'Two
    'Test Two Code Here
    SquareInches = MMSquared * m
    'end test code
    Return True
End Function

results

     3/17/2009 2:13:27 PM   CPU - 1.794GHz
 One - Using Division
 Two - Using Multiplication
 Outer Loops(OL)=7  Inner Loops=262,144
  ( times in ticks.  1 ms. = 10,000 ticks )
 >> Two faster, 0.0488 ticks/loop
  Ticks / Loop
 0.0342         0.0819          0.0331          0.0488
 OL Base        One             Two              One - Two
 1   8,936          21,459          8,609           12,850
 2   9,008          21,416          8,682           12,734
 3   8,965          21,423          8,643           12,780
 4   8,964          21,457          8,659           12,798
 5   8,966          21,469          8,640           12,829
 6   8,987          21,660          8,688           12,972
 7   8,963          21,429          8,802           12,627

  Average
 8,969          21,473          8,674           12,799
  Variance
 431.4          6,160.3         3,315.9       
  Standard Deviation
 20.8           78.5            57.6          
 3/17/2009 2:13:27 PM