# File rexml/functions.rb, line 296
  def Functions::number( object=nil )
			object = @node unless object
			if object == true
				Float(1)
			elsif object == false
				Float(0)
			elsif object.kind_of? Array
				string( object ).to_f
                        # elsif object.kind_of? Float and (object.infinite? or object.nan?)
                        elsif object.kind_of? Float
                                object
                        else
                                object.to_s.to_f
			end
		end