Submitter: Fred Tydeman (USA)
Submission Date: 2004-02-10
Source: WG 14
Reference Document:comp.std.c 2004-1-20:
<math.h>, infinity and range errors
Version: 1.0
Date: 2004-02-10
Subject: Is exp(INFINITY) overflow? A
range error? A divide-by-zero exception?
INFINITY without any errors?
Summary
I believe that there are some words missing from 7.12.1 Treatment of error conditions. Currently, the words allow exp(INFINITY) to be considered an overflow of the divide-by-zero type. This is wrong. An infinite result from infinite operands is not an error; it is an exact unexceptional operation.
Details from C99+TC1
Paragraph 4 in 7.12.1 Treatment of error conditions, currently has:A floating result overflows if the magnitude of the mathematical result is finite but so large that the mathematical result cannot be represented without extraordinary roundoff error in an object of the specified type. If a floating result overflows and default rounding is in effect, or if the mathematical result is an exact infinity (for example log(0.0)), then the function returns the value of the macro HUGE_VAL, HUGE_VALF, or ...; if the integer expression math_errhandling & MATH_ERREXCEPT is nonzero, the "divide-by-zero" floating-point exception is raised if the mathematical result is an exact infinity ...
In addition, IEEE-754 has in 6.1 Infinity Arithmetic:
Arithmetic on INFINITY is always exact and therefor shall signal no exceptions, except for the invalid operations specified for INFINITY in 7.1.
The invalid operations on INFINITY in IEEE-754 are: INF-INF, 0*INF, INF/INF, INF REM y, sqrt(-INF).
Suggested Technical Corrigendum
Add ", from finite arguments," as indicated below to paragraph 4 in 7.12.1 Treatment of error conditions.
A floating result overflows if the magnitude of the mathematical result is finite but so large that the mathematical result cannot be represented without extraordinary roundoff error in an object of the specified type. If a floating result overflows and default rounding is in effect, or if the mathematical result is an exact infinity, from finite arguments, (for example log(0.0)), then the function returns the value of the macro HUGE_VAL, HUGE_VALF, or ...
In addition, add the following to the Rationale in 7.12.1:
Operations on INFINITY are either invalid or exact. Some examples of invalid operations are: INF-INF, INF*0, INF/INF, sqrt(-INF), cexp(r+I*INF). Some examples of exact operations, which also are unexceptional, are INF+x, INF*x, INF/x, sqrt(+INF), exp(INF).