FW: [boost] Math constants for naive and gurus?

From: Paul A. Bristow (boost_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-10-14 15:35:14

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul A. Bristow [mailto:pbristow_at_[hidden]]
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 4:28 PM
To: boost_at_[hidden]
Subject: RE: [boost] Math constants for naive and gurus?

Prompted by Eric Ford's mad-Macroist implementation of
Michael Kenniston's highly ingenious proposal,
I have returned from holidays and other work and tried it out.

I am still concerned that it all fails the KISS principle,
(so I still propose to produce files containing long double values as well
- I still believe that the main use will be to cut and paste!)
but I have to admit that Michael's scheme seems to meet the twin
requirements of mere (mad?) scientists being able to write area = pi * r *
r;
and yet provide a templated function pi()
for potential optimisation by (mad?) mathematicians.

I have not used Eric's macros because the .hpp files will of course
be generated using Victor Shoup's extended precision system NTL,
and I will make the program actually write the C++ code as
well as the values. (and because MACROs obscure the principles behind).

(I have also not shown any physical (variable?) constants because I feel
these
should be kept separate, but Eric has shown how to do it.
Physical constants do raise namespaces questions:
If we have a namespace math, then physical constants don't belong there.
Perhaps they belong in a units /SI namespace?)

An example of my understanding of this proposal are attached.
constants.hpp contains a few constants and test_constants.cpp does a demo.
It would be useful to know if this works on other systems than MSVC6SP5?

I am also giving some thoughts to subdivision of constants into perhaps
three .hpp files as suggested:

    #include "boost/math/constants.hpp" // common - see below.
    #include "boost/math/constants2.hpp" // less common
    #include "boost/math/constants3.hpp" // obscure

Any views on better file names?

For the 1st file I propose:

        const long double sqrt2     = 1.4142135623730950488016887242096980785697L;
// sqrt 2
        const long double cube_root2    =
1.2599210498948731647672106072782283505703L; // cubert 2
        const long double fourth_root2  =
1.1892071150027210667174999705604759152930L; // 4 rt 2
        const long double ln2      = 0.6931471805599453094172321214581765680755L;
// ln 2
        const long double ln10         =
2.3025850929940456840179914546843642076011L; // ln 10
        const long double one_div_ln2    =
1.4426950408889634073599246810018921374266L; // 1 / ln 2
        const long double one_div_ln10    =
0.4342944819032518276511289189166050822944L; // 1 / ln 10
        const long double pi             =
3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841972L; // pi
      const long double two_pi
        const long double degree         =
0.0174532925199432957692369076848861271344L; // pi/180 degree
        const long double one_div_pi       =
0.3183098861837906715377675267450287240689L; // 1/pi
        const long double pi_sqr          =
9.8696044010893586188344909998761511353137L; // pi^2
        const long double sqrt_pi         =
1.7724538509055160272981674833411451827975L; // sqrt(pi) == gamma(1/2)
        const long double one_div_sqrt_two_pi = (0.39894228040143267794;
        const long double ln_pi           =
1.1447298858494001741434273513530587116473L; // ln pi
        const long double e              =
2.7182818284590452353602874713526624977572L; // e
        const long double one_div_e        =
0.3678794411714423215955237701614608674458L; // 1/e
        const long double e_sqr           =
7.3890560989306502272304274605750078131803L; // e^2
        const long double euler          =
0.5772156649015328606065120900824024310422L; // euler

        const long double phi            =
1.6180339887498948482045868343656381177203L; // phi
        const long double sin_one         =
0.8414709848078965066525023216302989996226L; // sin(1)
        const long double cos_one         =
0.5403023058681397174009366074429766037323L; // cos(1)
        const long double ln_phi          =
0.4812118250596034474977589134243684231352L; // ln phi
        const long double one_div_ln_phi    =
2.0780869212350275376013226061177957677422L; // 1/ln(phi)
        const long double one_div_sqrt_two_pi = 0.39894228040143267794L;

        const int zer = 0;
        const int one = 1;
        const int two = 2;
        const int ten = 10;

Other values considered essential?
Values considered too obscure?
Do the names meet Boost 'guidelines'?  (Not my preference but there you
go...)

I will consider the (many) other values when there is agreement about these.

Paul

Dr Paul A Bristow, hetp Chromatography
Prizet Farmhouse
Kendal, Cumbria
LA8 8AB      UK
[phone]
Mobile [phone]
mailto:pbristow_at_[hidden]

 > -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Kenniston [mailto:Msk_at_[hidden]]
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 2:17 PM
> To: boost_at_[hidden]
> Subject: [boost] Re: Math constants? [was: Static data vs. inline
> functions]
>
>