nag_elliptic_integral_rc (s21bac) (PDF version)
s Chapter Contents
s Chapter Introduction
NAG Library Manual

NAG Library Function Document

nag_elliptic_integral_rc (s21bac)

+ Contents

    1  Purpose
    7  Accuracy

1  Purpose

nag_elliptic_integral_rc (s21bac) returns a value of an elementary integral, which occurs as a degenerate case of an elliptic integral of the first kind.

2  Specification

#include <nag.h>
#include <nags.h>
double  nag_elliptic_integral_rc (double x, double y, NagError *fail)

3  Description

nag_elliptic_integral_rc (s21bac) calculates an approximate value for the integral
RC x,y = 12 0 dt t+y . t+x
where x0 and y0.
This function, which is related to the logarithm or inverse hyperbolic functions for y<x and to inverse circular functions if x<y, arises as a degenerate form of the elliptic integral of the first kind. If y<0, the result computed is the Cauchy principal value of the integral.
The basic algorithm, which is due to Carlson (1979) and Carlson (1988), is to reduce the arguments recursively towards their mean by the system:
x0=x y0=y μn=xn+2yn/3, Sn=yn-xn/3μn λn=yn+2xnyn xn+1=xn+λn/4, yn+1=yn+λn/4.
The quantity Sn for n=0,1,2,3, decreases with increasing n, eventually Sn1/4n. For small enough Sn the required function value can be approximated by the first few terms of the Taylor series about the mean. That is
RCx,y=1+3Sn210+Sn37+3Sn48+9Sn522 /μn.
The truncation error involved in using this approximation is bounded by 16Sn6/1-2Sn and the recursive process is stopped when Sn is small enough for this truncation error to be negligible compared to the machine precision.
Within the domain of definition, the function value is itself representable for all representable values of its arguments. However, for values of the arguments near the extremes the above algorithm must be modified so as to avoid causing underflows or overflows in intermediate steps. In extreme regions arguments are prescaled away from the extremes and compensating scaling of the result is done before returning to the calling program.

4  References

Abramowitz M and Stegun I A (1972) Handbook of Mathematical Functions (3rd Edition) Dover Publications
Carlson B C (1979) Computing elliptic integrals by duplication Numerische Mathematik 33 1–16
Carlson B C (1988) A table of elliptic integrals of the third kind Math. Comput. 51 267–280

5  Arguments

1:     xdoubleInput
2:     ydoubleInput
On entry: the arguments x and y of the function, respectively.
Constraint: x0.0 and y0.0.
3:     failNagError *Input/Output
The NAG error argument (see Section 3.6 in the Essential Introduction).

6  Error Indicators and Warnings

NE_INTERNAL_ERROR
An internal error has occurred in this function. Check the function call and any array sizes. If the call is correct then please contact NAG for assistance.
NE_REAL_ARG_EQ
On entry, y=0.0.
Constraint: y0.0.
The function is undefined and returns zero.
NE_REAL_ARG_LT
On entry, x=value.
Constraint: x0.0.
The function is undefined.

7  Accuracy

In principle the function is capable of producing full machine precision. However round-off errors in internal arithmetic will result in slight loss of accuracy. This loss should never be excessive as the algorithm does not involve any significant amplification of round-off error. It is reasonable to assume that the result is accurate to within a small multiple of the machine precision.

8  Parallelism and Performance

Not applicable.

9  Further Comments

You should consult the s Chapter Introduction which shows the relationship of this function to the classical definitions of the elliptic integrals.

10  Example

This example simply generates a small set of nonextreme arguments which are used with the function to produce the table of low accuracy results.

10.1  Program Text

Program Text (s21bace.c)

10.2  Program Data

None.

10.3  Program Results

Program Results (s21bace.r)


nag_elliptic_integral_rc (s21bac) (PDF version)
s Chapter Contents
s Chapter Introduction
NAG Library Manual

© The Numerical Algorithms Group Ltd, Oxford, UK. 2014