RISC Forum
James Davenport, University of Bath: Branch cuts - not just a technical detail
| When |
Jan 23, 2012
from 01:30 PM to 02:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | RISC seminar room |
| Attendees |
all@risc |
| Add event to calendar |
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Abstract: The precise definition of functions such as inverse sine is generally
thought of as a tedious business, settled by Abramowitz and Stegun.
However, the concept of branch cuts, and more generally the fact that
functions such as sine do not possess a well-defined continuous inverse,
insidiously pervades much of computer algebra, and indeed computer
mathematics. We will explore how this affects computer algebra, and why
not so much is written, or done, about these issues.