uint64() losts its mind?

a = uint64(2^64) 

a = uint64 18446744073709551615

b = uint64(2^64-1000)

b = uint64 18446744073709551615

a==b 

ans = logical
   1

[DGM]

A clue while I'm passing through:

eps(double(intmax('uint64')))

ans = 4096

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Please see http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/39474-scalar-multiplication and expand the comments in the answer there to see a discussion.