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Introduction - Computer Errors PDF

The document discusses various sources of errors in numerical computing, including measurement errors, truncation and roundoff errors from computer arithmetic. It provides examples of how small computational errors can accumulate in unstable algorithms, such as when subtracting close numbers which results in catastrophic cancellation of significant digits. The document advocates using stable algorithms and higher precision to control errors and provides an example where an inverse recurrent formula leads to a stable method for computing moments of inertia.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
298 views17 pages

Introduction - Computer Errors PDF

The document discusses various sources of errors in numerical computing, including measurement errors, truncation and roundoff errors from computer arithmetic. It provides examples of how small computational errors can accumulate in unstable algorithms, such as when subtracting close numbers which results in catastrophic cancellation of significant digits. The document advocates using stable algorithms and higher precision to control errors and provides an example where an inverse recurrent formula leads to a stable method for computing moments of inertia.
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENG4405 Numerical Methods and Modelling

Arcady Dyskin

Topics
! Computer arithmetic. Truncation and roundoff errors ! Matrices ! Linear equations. Methods of solution ! Ill-conditioned matrices ! Interpolation and curve fitting

GENG4405

Slide 2

Errors
! Types of errors ! Computer arithmetic. Truncation and roundoff errors ! Example. Numerical differentiation ! Example. Unstable algorithm
Absolute error Relative error

" r = ra ! r

!r !r #r = " r ra

Here r is the exact value, ra is an approximate value


GENG4405 Slide 3

Points to learn
! ! ! ! ! Types of error Precision Catastrophic cancellation Numerical differentiation Sensitivity of numerical differentiation to errors ! How to choose the increment - Later ! Unstable algorithms
GENG4405 Slide 4

Example. Compression of a layered sample Uniaxial loading of


layered material (glass layers)
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 0.002 0.004 strain 0.006 0.008 stress vs strain - glass1

stress (MPa)

Stress-strain curve (courtesy Glen Snowen)


GENG4405 Slide 5

Tangential modulus
d# "# E (! ) = $ d! "!
E(!) [MPa]
80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 -10000 -20000
GENG4405

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

! [10-6]
Slide 6

Types and sources of errors


! Human/Faulty equipment errors (can be corrected)
! Checks and verifications

! Errors of measurements
! Systematic
! Calibration

! Random
! Repeated measurements ! Statistical treatment

! Truncation/Roundoff errors
! Computer arithmetic ! Small ! Double precision computations
GENG4405 Slide 7

Computer arithmetic. Truncation and roundoff errors


The floating-point arithmetic Real numbers are usually represented in computers by floating-point numbers F. They are characterised by: the number base ", the precision t and the exponent range [L, U].

* d1 d 2 dt ' e x = ( ( # + # 2 + ! + #t % % $ # , 0 ! d i ! # " 1, i = 1,, t , L ! e ! U ) &


If d1#0 (for x#0), then the floating-point number system F is normalised. The integer e is called the exponent

f = d1 ! + + d t !t

is the mantissa (fraction)


GENG4405 8

Precision
PC
Real (real*4) mode Double precision (real*8) mode,

! = 2, t = 24, U = 123, L = "123

! = 2 , t = 53, U = 1023,

L = "1023

In decimal system it would approximately correspond to


Real (real*4) mode Double precision (real*8) mode,

! = 10, t = 7 , U = 38, L = "38 ! = 10, t = 16, U = 308, L = "308

Any real number x is replaced in a computer by the closest number, fl(x), from F

The relative error in rounding (x#0):

fl ( x) ! x 1 1!t # " x 2
GENG4405 Slide 9

Influence of small errors


! Catastrophic cancellation
! Loss of accuracy due to subtraction of close numbers
0.123456-0.123455=0.000001 (only one significant digit left)

! Numerical differentiation

! Unstable algorithms ! Sensitive models


! Ill conditioned systems (next two chapters)

GENG4405

Slide 10

Unstable algorithms. Example: Moment of inertia


Non-homogeneous material
1

I y = ! x 2"( x)dx
0

Relative density distribution y 1m

" ( x) = e x!1

I y = " x e dx ! E2
0

2 x #1

1m

x
GENG4405 Slide 11

Moments of inertia for different shapes y


1m
1

I y = " x 3e x #1dx ! E3
0

1m y 1m

I y = " x 4e x #1dx ! E4
0

1m

x
GENG4405 Slide 12

General case
y 1m

En =
1m x

"
0

x n e x!1 dx > 0

Integration by parts gives the following direct recurrent formula

1 En = 1 " nEn "1 , E0 = 1 " ! 0.632120 e


GENG4405 Slide 13

Calculations
n
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Recurrent formula 0.264242 0.207274 0.170904 0.14548 0.12712 0.11016 0.11872 -0.06848 Exact 0.264241 0.207277 0.170893 0.14533 0.126802 0.112384 0.100932 0.091612
GENG4405

Computer with "=10 and t=6

Slide 14

Analysis of recurrent computation of inertia moments


Initial roundoff error

$ # 0.368 "10 !6

E0 = 0.63212 + ! E1 = 0.367879 # ! E2 = 1 # 2 " 0.367879 + 2 " ! = 0.264242 + 2 " !

En = 1 ! nEn!1

E3 = 1 # 3 " 0.264242 # 3 " 2 " ! = 0.207274 # 6 " ! ! E9 = E9exact # 9!"! = E9exact # 362880 " !
The error of 9-th step is 0.133>E9exact

This algorithm is unstable error accumulation


GENG4405 Slide 15

Stable algorithm
1 ! Note En = " x n e x!1 dx < " x n dx = n +1 0 0 ! Inverse recurrent formula 1 ! En En!1 = n ! Error is damped ! Start with E20 ! 0 ! This approximation has an error not greater than 1/21. ! When the 9th term is approached, the initial error is divided by 20 ! 19 ! ! 10 = 362880 "7 ! It becomes less than 1.3 ! 10 ! The obtained result is E9 ! 0.09161123 ! The relative error is about 1.4 ! 10 "6
GENG4405 16

Summary
! Errors
! Measurements ! Computational
! Computer arithmetic ! Truncation and roundoff errors ! Controlled by precision - formula

! Catastrophic cancellation
! Subtraction of close numbers

! Unstable algorithms
! Simple methods could lead to catastrophic accumulation of errors

GENG4405

Slide 17

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