title: installing Python bigfloat module
body: <p>I'm trying to get the bigfloat Python package onto my mac, but I'm not very good at this sort of thing.</p>
  
  <p>I have downloaded the latest package as described <a href="http://packages.python.org/bigfloat/#module-bigfloat" rel="nofollow">here</a>. The documentation says:</p>
  
  <pre><code>In order to use the bigfloat package you will need to have both the GMP and MPFR libraries already installed on your system.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I think that the GMP and MPFR libraries are already installed on my system - at least when I search for them I see folders with their names and files in them.</p>
  
  <p>When I try to install bigfloat by typing:</p>
  
  <pre><code>python setup.py install
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get lots of error messages. The first ones being:</p>
  
  <pre><code>src/mpfr.c:223:17: error: gmp.h: No such file or directory
  src/mpfr.c:224:18: error: mpfr.h: No such file or directory
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The gmp.h and mpfr.h files are on my computer, but obviously I need to do something else.</p>
  
  <p>Cleary I don't understand how the whole process works, but any pointers in the right direction would be great. Thank you.</p>