Motion P1788/M0010.22: ElementaryFunctions: NO
NO
The value of a general power function for floating-point seems clear to me,
but I am a little skeptical of its value for interval computing. Mostly, the
idea it returns bounds not of a single function but of a family of functions
is a hard pill for me to swallow. If someone could provide practical
examples of why it is required, I would change my vote to YES. Otherwise I
think it should be removed and pow(x,y) given its traditional definition
exp(y*ln(x)); then I would change my vote to YES. I would also vote YES if
rootn(x,n) and powr(x,m,n) were required to complement pown(x,n).
On a speparate topic, if there was enough interest in P1788 to require sign,
ceil, floor, nint, and trunc in a separate follow-up motion, I would vote
YES for that, too.
Sincerely,
Nate Hayes