1 @node Mathematics, Arithmetic, Low-Level Terminal Interface, Top
4 This chapter contains information about functions for performing
5 mathematical computations, such as trigonometric functions. Most of
6 these functions have prototypes declared in the header file
10 All of the functions that operate on floating-point numbers accept
11 arguments and return results of type @code{double}. In the future,
12 there may be additional functions that operate on @code{float} and
13 @code{long double} values. For example, @code{cosf} and @code{cosl}
14 would be versions of the @code{cos} function that operate on
15 @code{float} and @code{long double} arguments, respectively. In the
16 meantime, you should avoid using these names yourself. @xref{Reserved
20 * Domain and Range Errors:: Detecting overflow conditions and the like.
21 * Trig Functions:: Sine, cosine, and tangent.
22 * Inverse Trig Functions:: Arc sine, arc cosine, and arc tangent.
23 * Exponents and Logarithms:: Also includes square root.
24 * Hyperbolic Functions:: Hyperbolic sine and friends.
25 * Pseudo-Random Numbers:: Functions for generating pseudo-random
29 @node Domain and Range Errors
30 @section Domain and Range Errors
33 Many of the functions listed in this chapter are defined mathematically
34 over a domain that is only a subset of real numbers. For example, the
35 @code{acos} function is defined over the domain between @code{-1} and
36 @code{1}. If you pass an argument to one of these functions that is
37 outside the domain over which it is defined, the function sets
38 @code{errno} to @code{EDOM} to indicate a @dfn{domain error}. On
39 machines that support @w{IEEE 754} floating point, functions reporting
40 error @code{EDOM} also return a NaN.
42 Some of these functions are defined mathematically to result in a
43 complex value over parts of their domains. The most familiar example of
44 this is taking the square root of a negative number. The functions in
45 this chapter take only real arguments and return only real values;
46 therefore, if the value ought to be nonreal, this is treated as a domain
50 A related problem is that the mathematical result of a function may not
51 be representable as a floating point number. If magnitude of the
52 correct result is too large to be represented, the function sets
53 @code{errno} to @code{ERANGE} to indicate a @dfn{range error}, and
54 returns a particular very large value (named by the macro
55 @code{HUGE_VAL}) or its negation (@w{@code{- HUGE_VAL}}).
57 If the magnitude of the result is too small, a value of zero is returned
58 instead. In this case, @code{errno} might or might not be
61 The only completely reliable way to check for domain and range errors is
62 to set @code{errno} to @code{0} before you call the mathematical function
63 and test @code{errno} afterward. As a consequence of this use of
64 @code{errno}, use of the mathematical functions is not reentrant if you
67 @c !!! this isn't always true at the moment....
68 None of the mathematical functions ever generates signals as a result of
69 domain or range errors. In particular, this means that you won't see
70 @code{SIGFPE} signals generated within these functions. (@xref{Signal
71 Handling}, for more information about signals.)
75 @deftypevr Macro double HUGE_VAL
76 An expression representing a particular very large number. On machines
77 that use @w{IEEE 754}/@w{IEEE 854} floating point format, the value is
78 ``infinity''. On other machines, it's typically the largest positive
79 number that can be represented.
81 The value of this macro is used as the return value from various
82 mathematical @code{double} returning functions in overflow situations.
87 @deftypevr Macro float HUGE_VALf
88 This macro is similar to the @code{HUGE_VAL} macro except that it is
89 used by functions returning @code{float} values.
91 This macro is a GNU extension.
96 @deftypevr Macro {long double} HUGE_VALl
97 This macro is similar to the @code{HUGE_VAL} macro except that it is
98 used by functions returning @code{long double} values. The value is
99 only different from @code{HUGE_VAL} if the architecture really supports
100 @code{long double} values.
102 This macro is a GNU extension.
108 For more information about floating-point representations and limits,
109 see @ref{Floating Point Parameters}. In particular, the macro
110 @code{DBL_MAX} might be more appropriate than @code{HUGE_VAL} for many
111 uses other than testing for an error in a mathematical function.
114 @section Trigonometric Functions
115 @cindex trigonometric functions
117 These are the familiar @code{sin}, @code{cos}, and @code{tan} functions.
118 The arguments to all of these functions are in units of radians; recall
119 that pi radians equals 180 degrees.
121 @cindex pi (trigonometric constant)
122 The math library doesn't define a symbolic constant for pi, but you can
123 define your own if you need one:
126 #define PI 3.14159265358979323846264338327
130 You can also compute the value of pi with the expression @code{acos
136 @deftypefun double sin (double @var{x})
137 This function returns the sine of @var{x}, where @var{x} is given in
138 radians. The return value is in the range @code{-1} to @code{1}.
143 @deftypefun double cos (double @var{x})
144 This function returns the cosine of @var{x}, where @var{x} is given in
145 radians. The return value is in the range @code{-1} to @code{1}.
150 @deftypefun double tan (double @var{x})
151 This function returns the tangent of @var{x}, where @var{x} is given in
154 The following @code{errno} error conditions are defined for this function:
158 Mathematically, the tangent function has singularities at odd multiples
159 of pi/2. If the argument @var{x} is too close to one of these
160 singularities, @code{tan} sets @code{errno} to @code{ERANGE} and returns
161 either positive or negative @code{HUGE_VAL}.
166 @node Inverse Trig Functions
167 @section Inverse Trigonometric Functions
168 @cindex inverse trigonometric functions
170 These are the usual arc sine, arc cosine and arc tangent functions,
171 which are the inverses of the sine, cosine and tangent functions,
176 @deftypefun double asin (double @var{x})
177 This function computes the arc sine of @var{x}---that is, the value whose
178 sine is @var{x}. The value is in units of radians. Mathematically,
179 there are infinitely many such values; the one actually returned is the
180 one between @code{-pi/2} and @code{pi/2} (inclusive).
182 @code{asin} fails, and sets @code{errno} to @code{EDOM}, if @var{x} is
183 out of range. The arc sine function is defined mathematically only
184 over the domain @code{-1} to @code{1}.
189 @deftypefun double acos (double @var{x})
190 This function computes the arc cosine of @var{x}---that is, the value
191 whose cosine is @var{x}. The value is in units of radians.
192 Mathematically, there are infinitely many such values; the one actually
193 returned is the one between @code{0} and @code{pi} (inclusive).
195 @code{acos} fails, and sets @code{errno} to @code{EDOM}, if @var{x} is
196 out of range. The arc cosine function is defined mathematically only
197 over the domain @code{-1} to @code{1}.
203 @deftypefun double atan (double @var{x})
204 This function computes the arc tangent of @var{x}---that is, the value
205 whose tangent is @var{x}. The value is in units of radians.
206 Mathematically, there are infinitely many such values; the one actually
207 returned is the one between @code{-pi/2} and @code{pi/2}
213 @deftypefun double atan2 (double @var{y}, double @var{x})
214 This is the two argument arc tangent function. It is similar to computing
215 the arc tangent of @var{y}/@var{x}, except that the signs of both arguments
216 are used to determine the quadrant of the result, and @var{x} is
217 permitted to be zero. The return value is given in radians and is in
218 the range @code{-pi} to @code{pi}, inclusive.
220 If @var{x} and @var{y} are coordinates of a point in the plane,
221 @code{atan2} returns the signed angle between the line from the origin
222 to that point and the x-axis. Thus, @code{atan2} is useful for
223 converting Cartesian coordinates to polar coordinates. (To compute the
224 radial coordinate, use @code{hypot}; see @ref{Exponents and
227 The function @code{atan2} sets @code{errno} to @code{EDOM} if both
228 @var{x} and @var{y} are zero; the return value is not defined in this
233 @node Exponents and Logarithms
234 @section Exponentiation and Logarithms
235 @cindex exponentiation functions
236 @cindex power functions
237 @cindex logarithm functions
241 @deftypefun double exp (double @var{x})
242 The @code{exp} function returns the value of e (the base of natural
243 logarithms) raised to power @var{x}.
245 The function fails, and sets @code{errno} to @code{ERANGE}, if the
246 magnitude of the result is too large to be representable.
251 @deftypefun double log (double @var{x})
252 This function returns the natural logarithm of @var{x}. @code{exp (log
253 (@var{x}))} equals @var{x}, exactly in mathematics and approximately in
256 The following @code{errno} error conditions are defined for this function:
260 The argument @var{x} is negative. The log function is defined
261 mathematically to return a real result only on positive arguments.
264 The argument is zero. The log of zero is not defined.
270 @deftypefun double log10 (double @var{x})
271 This function returns the base-10 logarithm of @var{x}. Except for the
272 different base, it is similar to the @code{log} function. In fact,
273 @code{log10 (@var{x})} equals @code{log (@var{x}) / log (10)}.
278 @deftypefun double pow (double @var{base}, double @var{power})
279 This is a general exponentiation function, returning @var{base} raised
283 The following @code{errno} error conditions are defined for this function:
287 The argument @var{base} is negative and @var{power} is not an integral
288 value. Mathematically, the result would be a complex number in this case.
291 An underflow or overflow condition was detected in the result.
295 @cindex square root function
298 @deftypefun double sqrt (double @var{x})
299 This function returns the nonnegative square root of @var{x}.
301 The @code{sqrt} function fails, and sets @code{errno} to @code{EDOM}, if
302 @var{x} is negative. Mathematically, the square root would be a complex
306 @cindex cube root function
309 @deftypefun double cbrt (double @var{x})
310 This function returns the cube root of @var{x}. This function cannot
311 fail; every representable real value has a representable real cube root.
316 @deftypefun double hypot (double @var{x}, double @var{y})
317 The @code{hypot} function returns @code{sqrt (@var{x}*@var{x} +
318 @var{y}*@var{y})}. (This is the length of the hypotenuse of a right
319 triangle with sides of length @var{x} and @var{y}, or the distance
320 of the point (@var{x}, @var{y}) from the origin.) See also the function
321 @code{cabs} in @ref{Absolute Value}.
326 @deftypefun double expm1 (double @var{x})
327 This function returns a value equivalent to @code{exp (@var{x}) - 1}.
328 It is computed in a way that is accurate even if the value of @var{x} is
329 near zero---a case where @code{exp (@var{x}) - 1} would be inaccurate due
330 to subtraction of two numbers that are nearly equal.
335 @deftypefun double log1p (double @var{x})
336 This function returns a value equivalent to @w{@code{log (1 + @var{x})}}.
337 It is computed in a way that is accurate even if the value of @var{x} is
341 @node Hyperbolic Functions
342 @section Hyperbolic Functions
343 @cindex hyperbolic functions
345 The functions in this section are related to the exponential functions;
346 see @ref{Exponents and Logarithms}.
350 @deftypefun double sinh (double @var{x})
351 The @code{sinh} function returns the hyperbolic sine of @var{x}, defined
352 mathematically as @w{@code{exp (@var{x}) - exp (-@var{x}) / 2}}. The
353 function fails, and sets @code{errno} to @code{ERANGE}, if the value of
354 @var{x} is too large; that is, if overflow occurs.
359 @deftypefun double cosh (double @var{x})
360 The @code{cosh} function returns the hyperbolic cosine of @var{x},
361 defined mathematically as @w{@code{exp (@var{x}) + exp (-@var{x}) / 2}}.
362 The function fails, and sets @code{errno} to @code{ERANGE}, if the value
363 of @var{x} is too large; that is, if overflow occurs.
368 @deftypefun double tanh (double @var{x})
369 This function returns the hyperbolic tangent of @var{x}, whose
370 mathematical definition is @w{@code{sinh (@var{x}) / cosh (@var{x})}}.
373 @cindex inverse hyperbolic functions
377 @deftypefun double asinh (double @var{x})
378 This function returns the inverse hyperbolic sine of @var{x}---the
379 value whose hyperbolic sine is @var{x}.
384 @deftypefun double acosh (double @var{x})
385 This function returns the inverse hyperbolic cosine of @var{x}---the
386 value whose hyperbolic cosine is @var{x}. If @var{x} is less than
387 @code{1}, @code{acosh} returns @code{HUGE_VAL}.
392 @deftypefun double atanh (double @var{x})
393 This function returns the inverse hyperbolic tangent of @var{x}---the
394 value whose hyperbolic tangent is @var{x}. If the absolute value of
395 @var{x} is greater than or equal to @code{1}, @code{atanh} returns
399 @node Pseudo-Random Numbers
400 @section Pseudo-Random Numbers
401 @cindex random numbers
402 @cindex pseudo-random numbers
403 @cindex seed (for random numbers)
405 This section describes the GNU facilities for generating a series of
406 pseudo-random numbers. The numbers generated are not truly random;
407 typically, they form a sequence that repeats periodically, with a
408 period so large that you can ignore it for ordinary purposes. The
409 random number generator works by remembering at all times a @dfn{seed}
410 value which it uses to compute the next random number and also to
413 Although the generated numbers look unpredictable within one run of a
414 program, the sequence of numbers is @emph{exactly the same} from one run
415 to the next. This is because the initial seed is always the same. This
416 is convenient when you are debugging a program, but it is unhelpful if
417 you want the program to behave unpredictably. If you want truly random
418 numbers, not just pseudo-random, specify a seed based on the current
421 You can get repeatable sequences of numbers on a particular machine type
422 by specifying the same initial seed value for the random number
423 generator. There is no standard meaning for a particular seed value;
424 the same seed, used in different C libraries or on different CPU types,
425 will give you different random numbers.
427 The GNU library supports the standard @w{ISO C} random number functions
428 plus another set derived from BSD. We recommend you use the standard
429 ones, @code{rand} and @code{srand}.
432 * ISO Random:: @code{rand} and friends.
433 * BSD Random:: @code{random} and friends.
437 @subsection ISO C Random Number Functions
439 This section describes the random number functions that are part of
440 the @w{ISO C} standard.
442 To use these facilities, you should include the header file
443 @file{stdlib.h} in your program.
448 @deftypevr Macro int RAND_MAX
449 The value of this macro is an integer constant expression that
450 represents the maximum possible value returned by the @code{rand}
451 function. In the GNU library, it is @code{037777777}, which is the
452 largest signed integer representable in 32 bits. In other libraries, it
453 may be as low as @code{32767}.
458 @deftypefun int rand ()
459 The @code{rand} function returns the next pseudo-random number in the
460 series. The value is in the range from @code{0} to @code{RAND_MAX}.
465 @deftypefun void srand (unsigned int @var{seed})
466 This function establishes @var{seed} as the seed for a new series of
467 pseudo-random numbers. If you call @code{rand} before a seed has been
468 established with @code{srand}, it uses the value @code{1} as a default
471 To produce truly random numbers (not just pseudo-random), do @code{srand
476 @subsection BSD Random Number Functions
478 This section describes a set of random number generation functions that
479 are derived from BSD. There is no advantage to using these functions
480 with the GNU C library; we support them for BSD compatibility only.
482 The prototypes for these functions are in @file{stdlib.h}.
487 @deftypefun {long int} random ()
488 This function returns the next pseudo-random number in the sequence.
489 The range of values returned is from @code{0} to @code{RAND_MAX}.
494 @deftypefun void srandom (unsigned int @var{seed})
495 The @code{srandom} function sets the seed for the current random number
496 state based on the integer @var{seed}. If you supply a @var{seed} value
497 of @code{1}, this will cause @code{random} to reproduce the default set
500 To produce truly random numbers (not just pseudo-random), do
501 @code{srandom (time (0))}.
506 @deftypefun {void *} initstate (unsigned int @var{seed}, void *@var{state}, size_t @var{size})
507 The @code{initstate} function is used to initialize the random number
508 generator state. The argument @var{state} is an array of @var{size}
509 bytes, used to hold the state information. The size must be at least 8
510 bytes, and optimal sizes are 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and 256. The bigger
511 the @var{state} array, the better.
513 The return value is the previous value of the state information array.
514 You can use this value later as an argument to @code{setstate} to
520 @deftypefun {void *} setstate (void *@var{state})
521 The @code{setstate} function restores the random number state
522 information @var{state}. The argument must have been the result of
523 a previous call to @var{initstate} or @var{setstate}.
525 The return value is the previous value of the state information array.
526 You can use thise value later as an argument to @code{setstate} to