Wierd problem, max(column_name) gives different result than max(to_number(column_name))

I have a table that includes an equipment number (eqnum). It is a varchar field. When I do a

        select max(eqnum) I get                   1044241
        
        when i do a

        select max(to_number(eqnum) I get   1080101

the lengths are the same a
SELECT max(eqnum), max(to_number(eqnum)), length(max(eqnum)), length(max(to_number(eqnum)))
gives
1044241 1080101 7 7

why the difference??
isn't a number in a varchar field the same as a number in an integer field?

respond to group or ramdan_at_mailexcite.com Received on Mon Sep 21 1998 - 10:31:02 CDT