MPFR: A multiple-precision binary floating-point library with correct rounding

ABSTRACT

This article presents a multiple-precision binary floating-point library, written in the ISO C language, and based on the GNU MP library. Its particularity is to extend to arbitrary-precision, ideas from the IEEE 754 standard, by providing correct rounding and exceptions. We demonstrate how these strong semantics are achieved---with no significant slowdown with respect to other arbitrary-precision tools---and discuss a few applications where such a library can be useful.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.0 General
          Subjects: Standards

Additional Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.1 NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
      G.1.0 General
          Subjects: Computer arithmetic; Multiple precision arithmetic
      G.1.2 Approximation
          Subjects: Special function approximations; Elementary function approximation
  G.4 MATHEMATICAL SOFTWARE
      Subjects: Efficiency; Algorithm design and analysis

Keywords:
IEEE 754 standard, Multiple-precision arithmetic, correct rounding, elementary function, floating-point arithmetic, portable software