From: t_nissie@...
Date: 2014-09-26T09:49:37+00:00
Subject: [ruby-dev:48579] [ruby-trunk - Feature #10298] [Open] Array#float_sum (like math.fsum of Python)

Issue #10298 has been reported by Takeshi Nishimatsu.

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Feature #10298: Array#float_sum (like math.fsum of Python)
https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/10298

* Author: Takeshi Nishimatsu
* Status: Open
* Priority: Low
* Assignee: 
* Category: math
* Target version: 
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Here, I propose Array#float_sum in array.c (or math.c).
Array#float_sum returns an accurate total summation of Float
elements in an array using the Kahan summation algorithm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahan_summation_algorithm .
This algorithm can significantly reduce the numerical
error in the total obtained by adding a sequence of
finite precision floating point numbers, compared to the
obvious approach. Python already have math.fsum
https://docs.python.org/2/library/math.html#math.fsum .

```
[0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1].float_sum   #=> 1.0
[].float_sum                                                   #=> 0.0
Array.new( 10, 0.1).float_sum    #=>  1.0
Array.new(100, 0.1).float_sum    #=> 10.0
# cf.
Array.new( 10, 0.1).reduce(:+)   #=>  0.9999999999999999
Array.new(100, 0.1).reduce(:+)   #=>  9.99999999999998
```

The name of method can be fsum, sum_float, etc., though
I propose float_sum.

This Array#float_sum is inspired by Feature #9834 Float#{next_float,prev_float}.


---Files--------------------------------
array.float_sum.patch (1.32 KB)


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