[comp.lang.fortran] Accuracy figures of mathematics intrinsics in FORTRAN

steveh@cheetah.inmos.co.uk (Steven Huggins) (04/08/91)

    I notice that both Sun and VAX do not give accuracy figures in the
manuals for their mathematics intrinsics in FORTRAN.  I believe that some
manufacturers do give such figures.  What I am interested in is,

1) what sort of user uses such figures?

2) what is the best form of such figures?

3) why do most people not seem to care that the mathematics intrinsics
   are not wholly accurate?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steven R Huggins, Software Development Group, INMOS Ltd., 1000 Aztec West,
Almondsbury, Bristol, United Kingdom. BS12  4SQ           Tel: 0454 616616
INTERNET: steveh@inmos.com  JANET and UK source: steveh@uk.co.inmos
Other possibility: steveh@inmos.co.uk

ok@goanna.cs.rmit.oz.au (Richard A. O'Keefe) (04/12/91)

In article <15286@ganymede.inmos.co.uk>, steveh@cheetah.inmos.co.uk (Steven Huggins) writes:
>     I notice that both Sun and VAX do not give accuracy figures in the
> manuals for their mathematics intrinsics in FORTRAN.

It's been a while since I had my hands on a Sun "Floating Point Programmers'
Guide", but it was my impression that they _did_ report the quality of their
intrinsics.  That manual is certainly where I learned about the ELEFUNT test
suite.  With ELEFUNT, you don't need to trust the vendor.  (Sun were right to
be confident.)

-- 
It is indeed manifest that dead men are formed from living ones;
but it does not follow from that, that living men are formed from dead ones.
			-- Tertullian, on reincarnation.