Integer conversion error

[Eric Volker]

The following code generates some bizarre results:

#include <iostream.h>

float amount;
int cents;

int main()
{
        cout << "Enter amount: ";
        cin >> amount;
        cents = int (amount*100);
        cout << "$" << amount << " equals " << cents << " cents.\n";
        return(0);
}

Sample output:

Enter amount: .76
$0.76 equals 75 cents.

Enter amount: .81
$0.81 equals 80 cents.

Enter amount: .31
$0.31 equals 30 cents.

Why is this happening? A float converted to an int should retain the
same value, not drop .01 as if it were rounding down. Please pardon my
ignorance if I'm missing something obvious.