Algorithm 665: Machar: a subroutine to dynamically determined machine parameters

ABSTRACT

Numerical software written in high-level languages often relies on machine-dependent parameters to improve portability. MACHAR is an evolving FORTRAN subroutine for dynamically determining thirteen fundamental parameters associated with a floating-point arithmetic system. The version presented here operates correctly on a large number of different floating-point systems, including those implementing the new IEEE Floating-Point Standard.

REFERENCES

• 1: William James Cody, Software Manual for the Elementary Functions (Prentice-Hall series in computational mathematics), Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1980
• 2: P. A. Fox , A. D. Hall , N. L. Schryer, Algorithm 528: Framework for a Portable Library [Z], ACM Transactions on Mathematical Software (TOMS), v.4 n.2, p.177-188, June 1978 [doi>10.1145/355780.355789]
• 3: W. Morven Gentleman , Scott B. Marovich, More on algorithms that reveal properties of floating point arithmetic units, Communications of the ACM, v.17 n.5, p.276-277, May 1974 [doi>10.1145/360980.361003]
• 4: IEEE Standard for Binary Floating-Point Numbers. ANSI/IEEE Std 754-1985, IEEE, New York, 1985.
• 5: Michael A. Malcolm, Algorithms to reveal properties of floating-point arithmetic, Communications of the ACM, v.15 n.11, p.949-951, Nov. 1972 [doi>10.1145/355606.361870]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.4 MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE
      Subjects: Portability**

Additional Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.1 NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
      G.1.0 General
          Subjects: Computer arithmetic

General Terms:
Algorithms