A Comment on the Eispack Machine Epsilon Routine

Hopkins, Tim and Slater, John (1994) A Comment on the Eispack Machine Epsilon Routine. Technical report. University of Kent, Computing Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK (Full text available)

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Abstract

We analyze the algorithm used to generate the value for the machine epsilon in the Eispack suite of routines and show that it can fail on a binary floating-point system. The comments in the code describing the conditions under which this method will work are not restrictive enough and we provide a replacement set of assumptions. We conclude by suggesting how the algorithm may be modified to overcome most of the shortcomings.

Item Type:	Monograph (Technical report)
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA 76 Software, computer programming,
Divisions:	Faculties > Science Technology and Medical Studies > School of Computing > Systems Architecture Group
Depositing User:	Mark Wheadon
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2009 18:26
Last Modified:	06 Sep 2011 03:45
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/21181 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)