Elementary functions

by J. M. Muller

The elementary functions (sine, cosine, tan, exponentials, and logarithms) are the most commonly used mathematical functions in science and engineering. Computing these functions quickly and accurately is a major goal in computer arithmetic. This new book gives the concepts and background necessary to understand and build algorithms for computing these functions, presenting and structuring the algorithms (hardware-oriented as well as software-oriented), and discusses issues related to the accurate floating-point implementation. The purpose is not to give "cookbook recipes" that allow one to implement some given function, but to provide the reader with the knowledge that is necessary to build, or adapt, algorithms to their specific computing environment. The book provides an up-to-date presentation of the information needed to understand and accurately use mathematical functions and algorithms in computational work and design. Graduates, professionals and researchers in scientific compu