Error Function Differentiate
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that occurs in probability, statistics, and partial differential equations describing diffusion. It is defined as:[1][2] erf ( x ) = 1 π ∫ − x x e
Error Function Differential Equation
− t 2 d t = 2 π ∫ 0 x e − derivative of error function complement t 2 d t . {\displaystyle {\begin − 6\operatorname − 5 (x)&={\frac − 4{\sqrt {\pi }}}\int _{-x}^ − 3e^{-t^
Error Function Values
− 2}\,\mathrm − 1 t\\&={\frac − 0{\sqrt {\pi }}}\int _ 9^ 8e^{-t^ 7}\,\mathrm 6 t.\end 5}} The complementary error function, denoted erfc, is defined as erfc derivative complementary error function ( x ) = 1 − erf ( x ) = 2 π ∫ x ∞ e − t 2 d t = e − x 2 erfcx ( x ) , {\displaystyle {\begin 2\operatorname 1 (x)&=1-\operatorname 0 (x)\\&={\frac Φ 9{\sqrt {\pi }}}\int _ Φ 8^{\infty }e^{-t^ Φ 7}\,\mathrm Φ 6 t\\&=e^{-x^ Φ 5}\operatorname Φ 4 error function calculator (x),\end Φ 3}} which also defines erfcx, the scaled complementary error function[3] (which can be used instead of erfc to avoid arithmetic underflow[3][4]). Another form of erfc ( x ) {\displaystyle \operatorname 2 (x)} for non-negative x {\displaystyle x} is known as Craig's formula:[5] erfc ( x | x ≥ 0 ) = 2 π ∫ 0 π / 2 exp ( − x 2 sin 2 θ ) d θ . {\displaystyle \operatorname 0 (x|x\geq 0)={\frac Φ 9{\pi }}\int _ Φ 8^{\pi /2}\exp \left(-{\frac Φ 7}{\sin ^ Φ 6\theta }}\right)d\theta \,.} The imaginary error function, denoted erfi, is defined as erfi ( x ) = − i erf ( i x ) = 2 π ∫ 0 x e t 2 d t = 2 π e x 2 D ( x ) , {\displaystyle {\begin Φ 0\operatorname − 9 (x)&=-i\operatorname − 8 (ix)\\&={\frac − 7{\sqrt {\pi }}}\int _ − 6^ − 5e^ − 4}\,\mathrm − 3 t\\&={\frac − 2{\sqrt {\pi }}}e^ − 1}D(x),\end − 0}} where D(x) is the Dawson function (which can be used in
Random Entry New in MathWorld MathWorld Classroom About MathWorld Contribute to MathWorld Send a Message to the Team MathWorld Book Wolfram Web Resources» 13,594 http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Erfc.html entries Last updated: Tue Sep 27 2016 Created, developed, and http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/37889/why-is-the-error-function-defined-as-it-is nurturedbyEricWeisstein at WolframResearch Calculus and Analysis>Special Functions>Erf> Calculus and Analysis>Complex Analysis>Entire Functions> Calculus and Analysis>Calculus>Integrals>Definite Integrals> More... Interactive Entries>webMathematica Examples> History and Terminology>Wolfram Language Commands> Less... Erfc Erfc is the complementary error function, commonly denoted , is an entire function error function defined by (1) (2) It is implemented in the Wolfram Language as Erfc[z]. Note that some authors (e.g., Whittaker and Watson 1990, p.341) define without the leading factor of . For , (3) where is the incomplete gamma function. The derivative is given by (4) and the indefinite integral by error function differentiate (5) It has the special values (6) (7) (8) It satisfies the identity (9) It has definite integrals (10) (11) (12) For , is bounded by (13) Min Max Re Im Erfc can also be extended to the complex plane, as illustrated above. A generalization is obtained from the erfc differential equation (14) (Abramowitz and Stegun 1972, p.299; Zwillinger 1997, p.122). The general solution is then (15) where is the repeated erfc integral. For integer , (16) (17) (18) (19) (Abramowitz and Stegun 1972, p.299), where is a confluent hypergeometric function of the first kind and is a gamma function. The first few values, extended by the definition for and 0, are given by (20) (21) (22) SEE ALSO: Erf, Erfc Differential Equation, Erfi, Inverse Erfc RELATED WOLFRAM SITES: http://functions.wolfram.com/GammaBetaErf/Erfc/ REFERENCES: Abramowitz, M. and Stegun, I.A. (Eds.). "Repeated Integrals of the Error Function." §7.2 in Handbook of Mathematical
here for a quick overview of the site Help Center Detailed answers to any questions you might have Meta Discuss the workings and policies of this site About Us Learn more about Stack Overflow the company Business Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us Mathematics Questions Tags Users Badges Unanswered Ask Question _ Mathematics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people studying math at any level and professionals in related fields. Join them; it only takes a minute: Sign up Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question Anybody can answer The best answers are voted up and rise to the top Why is the error function defined as it is? up vote 35 down vote favorite 6 $\newcommand{\erf}{\operatorname{erf}}$ This may be a very naïve question, but here goes. The error function $\erf$ is defined by $$\erf(x) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \int_0^x e^{-t^2}dt.$$ Of course, it is closely related to the normal cdf $$\Phi(x) = P(N < x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} \int_{-\infty}^x e^{-t^2/2}dt$$ (where $N \sim N(0,1)$ is a standard normal) by the expression $\erf(x) = 2\Phi(x \sqrt{2})-1$. My question is: Why is it natural or useful to define $\erf$ normalized in this way? I may be biased: as a probabilist, I think much more naturally in terms of $\Phi$. However, anytime I want to compute something, I find that my calculator or math library only provides $\erf$, and I have to go check a textbook or Wikipedia to remember where all the $1$s and $2$s go. Being charitable, I have to assume that $\erf$ was invented for some reason other than to cause me annoyance, so I would like to know what it is. If nothing else, it might help me remember the definition. Wikipedia says: The standard normal cdf is used more often in probability and statistics, and the error function is used more often in other branches of mathematics. So perhaps a practitioner of one of these mysterious "other branches of mathematics" would care to enlighten me. The most reasonable expression I've found is that $$P(|N| < x) = \erf(x/\sqrt{2}).$$ This at least gets rid of all but one of the apparently spurious constants, but still has a peculiar $\sqrt{2}$ floating around. probability statistics special-functions normal-distribution share|cite|improve this question asked May 8 '11 at 20:19 Nate Eldredge 49.1k356129 I had assumed it was because you ca