diff --git a/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/MathUtils.java b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/MathUtils.java
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..c76bbc3b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/src/org/broadinstitute/sting/utils/MathUtils.java
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package org.broadinstitute.sting.utils;
+
+/**
+ * MathUtils is a static class (no instantiation allowed!) with some useful math methods.
+ *
+ * @author Kiran Garimella
+ */
+public class MathUtils {
+    /** Private constructor.  No instantiating this class! */
+    private MathUtils() {}
+
+    /**
+     * Compares double values for equality (within 1e-6), or inequality.
+     *
+     * @param a  the first double value
+     * @param b  the second double value
+     * @return   -1 if a is greater than b, 0 if a is equal to be within 1e-6, 1 if b is greater than a.
+     */
+    public static byte compareDoubles(double a, double b) { return compareDoubles(a, b, 1e-6); }
+
+    /**
+     * Compares double values for equality (within epsilon), or inequality.
+     *
+     * @param a       the first double value
+     * @param b       the second double value
+     * @param epsilon the precision within which two double values will be considered equal
+     * @return        -1 if a is greater than b, 0 if a is equal to be within epsilon, 1 if b is greater than a.
+     */
+    public static byte compareDoubles(double a, double b, double epsilon)
+    {
+        if (Math.abs(a - b) < epsilon) { return 0; }
+        if (a > b) { return -1; }
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Compares float values for equality (within 1e-6), or inequality.
+     *
+     * @param a  the first float value
+     * @param b  the second float value
+     * @return   -1 if a is greater than b, 0 if a is equal to be within 1e-6, 1 if b is greater than a.
+     */
+    public static byte compareFloats(float a, float b) { return compareFloats(a, b, 1e-6f); }
+
+    /**
+     * Compares float values for equality (within epsilon), or inequality.
+     *
+     * @param a       the first float value
+     * @param b       the second float value
+     * @param epsilon the precision within which two float values will be considered equal
+     * @return        -1 if a is greater than b, 0 if a is equal to be within epsilon, 1 if b is greater than a.
+     */
+    public static byte compareFloats(float a, float b, float epsilon)
+    {
+        if (Math.abs(a - b) < epsilon) { return 0; }
+        if (a > b) { return -1; }
+        return 1;
+    }
+}