Thread Links Date Links
Thread Prev Thread Next Thread Index Date Prev Date Next Date Index

Re: mid-rad, inf-sup, a caution...



Dear all,

I realise that few people are familiar with
mid-rad computations. Sunaga original 
paper is probably the best source.

For engineers it will be interesting to see how
Sunaga computes rigorously in mid-rad arithmetic.

We reworded his method in our paper:

Markov, S., Okumura, K.: The Contribution of T. Sunaga to
 Interval Analysis and Reliable Computing, in: Csendes, T. (ed.), 
Developments in Reliable Computing,  Kluwer, 1999,   167--188.

There in section:

3. Sunaga’s Proposal for Application of Interval Analysis to Reliable
Numerical Computation

we described Sunaga's rigorous method. I strogly recommend
engineering specialist to   look at Sunaga's method.  I attach 
a pre-published copy of the paper (without photo of Sunaga).

Regards,

Svetoslav



On 11 May 2010 at 12:36, Svetoslav Markov wrote:

From:           	"Svetoslav Markov" <smarkov@xxxxxxxxxx>
To:             	John Pryce <j.d.pryce@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, 1788 <stds-
1788@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date sent:      	Tue, 11 May 2010 12:36:59 +0300
Subject:        	Re: mid-rad, inf-sup, a caution...
Priority:       	normal

> Dear John,
> 
> On 11 May 2010 at 9:19, John Pryce wrote:
> 
> Subject:        	Re: mid-rad, inf-sup, a caution...
> From:           	John Pryce <j.d.pryce@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date sent:      	Tue, 11 May 2010 09:19:07 +0100
> To:             	P1788 <stds-1788@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> > P1788
> > 
> > On 9 May 2010, at 18:41, Dan Zuras Intervals wrote:
> > > 	Hossam's analogy is an excellent one.  The issue of mid-rad
> > > 	versus inf-sup is, for us, very VERY much like the the issue
> > > 	of binary versus decimal was for 754.  Like binary & decimal,
> > > 	mid-rad & inf-sup each have their adherents & appripriate
> > > 	application areas.  Not only are the underlying mental models
> > > 	different in the two forms, the very concept of precision &
> > > 	range is defined differently with mid-rad being able to
> > > 	represent some intervals more precisely & others badly or not
> > > 	at all.  Similarly, one cannot say that Decimal64 is more or
> > > 	less precise than Binary64 in that some numbers are more
> > > 	precise in one & some more precise in the other.
> > > 
> > > 	His analogy is so good that I am persuaded that we should
> > > 	consider giving mid-rad full first class status.
> > > 
> > > 	His analogy is also so good that a caution applies.
> > 
> > A.
> > I note that Baker originally wrote 
> > > ... warrant standardizing separate *interchange* formats ...
> > 
> > That may be relatively easy - easier than making mid-rad a first-class companion to inf-sup. 
I should appreciate mid-rad experts clarifying some points about the specification that would 
be needed if it's ONLY interchange format we talk about:
> > 
> > - Who will benefit? Who wants to exchange interval data between systems, based
> >   on mid-rad formats?
> > 
> > - Do we just cover formats based on the basic 754 FP formats, 
> >   or are multi-precision formats *essential*?
> > 
> > - Should we consider it normal that the midpoint m and radius r be of
> >   *different* formats, e.g., m is binary<N> for large N and r is binary32,
> >   say?
> > 
> > - Can we assume the radius is never less than about 1 ulp of the midpoint's
> >   precision? I.e., if r gets very small, one stores m to increased precision
> >   to match.
> > 
> > B.
> > Giving mid-rad first class status ("MRFCS") seems MUCH more problematic.
> > - Practical problem: It will seriously extend the project deadline.
> > - Theoretical problems: No unique hull operation. What to do with unbounded
> >   intervals?
> > 
> > Svetoslav, you write
> > > Moreover, many facts lead me to conclude that mid-rad is a "primary type" 
> > > deserving a "first class treatment"!
> > Well, will you please give some of these facts? 
> 
> I have in mind some facts like:
> 
> - the simplicity of computations that engineers usually perform
>   by hand using the main value (midpoint) and a few digists
>   for the error bound. See. e. g. Sunaga paper.
> 
> - the few digits are really very few, say 1-3, see e. g. :
>   van Emden, M. H., On the Significance of Digits in 
>   Interval Notation, Reliable Computing 10, 1, 45--58.
> 
> - the simplicity of the mid-rad formulae for arithmetic operations
>   vs sup-inf formulae;
> 
> - the FP standard for midpoint is available, it  only needs to
>   be extended and completed so that the concept of an FP-number
>   is extended to the concept approximate number (which is actually 
>   an interval).
> 
> - the interval quasilinear space naturally splits in
>    (is a direct sum of)  the vector space of midpoints 
>   and the quasilinear space of radiuses (error bounds), BUT
>   is not splitted in the spaces of endpoints!
> 
> > - Who will benefit?  
> 
> IMO everybody will benefit. It is simpler to learn and use  
> mid-rad arithmetic, than inf-sup one.
> 
> Of course there will be problems, like those with infinite
> intervals, but similar problems are with inf-sup.
> 
> Svetoslav
> 
> 
> Generally, I would like to know:
> > 
> > - Who will benefit? What group of people needs the portability of mid-rad
> >   algorithms and code that is provided by MRFCS?
> > 
> > Not the multi-precision (M-P)people, as far as I can see, because they have various "proprietary" storage schemes. At least one is actually inf-sup. The ones based on triples are similar to, but not same as, mid-rad. Is the M-P community frustrated because of the difficulty of exchanging algorithms between different M-P systems?
> > 
> > Not people like Siegfried, because INTLAB only uses mid-rad inside an algorithm, but stores data and final results in inf-sup form.
> > 
> > Michel Hack observes that mid-rad expresses a different mental model from inf-sup. Important point, but how does that translate into a need to support software? I'm not saying it doesn't - probably I'm just ignorant.
> > 
> > Please stand up, the people who actually need MRFCS for practical computing, rather than as an abstract principle. 
> Say how it will help you.
> > 
> > John
>  

 

Attachment: MKOHSH99.pdf
Description: Binary data