# File rexml/functions.rb, line 231
  def Functions::number( object=nil )
			object = @node unless object
			if object == true
				object = "1"
			elsif object == false
				object = "0"
			elsif object.kind_of? Array
				object = string( object )
			else
				object = object.to_s
			end
			object.to_f
		end