/*-
* get an upper bound for the length of the decimal integer
* num <= (BN_num_bits(a) + 1) * log(2)
- * <= 3 * BN_num_bits(a) * 0.1001 + log(2) + 1 (rounding error)
- * <= BN_num_bits(a)/10 + BN_num_bits/1000 + 1 + 1
+ * <= 3 * BN_num_bits(a) * 0.101 + log(2) + 1 (rounding error)
+ * <= 3 * BN_num_bits(a) / 10 + 3 * BN_num_bits / 1000 + 1 + 1
*/
i = BN_num_bits(a) * 3;
num = (i / 10 + i / 1000 + 1) + 1;