The borwein brothers, pi and the AGM

Richard P. Brent*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We consider some of Jonathan and Peter Borweins’ contributions to the high-precision computation of π and the elementary functions, with particular reference to their book Pi and the AGM (Wiley, 1987). Here “AGM” is the arithmetic–geometric mean of Gauss and Legendre. Because the AGM converges quadratically, it can be combined with fast multiplication algorithms to give fast algorithms for the n-bit computation of π, and more generally the elementary functions. These algorithms run in “almost linear” time (Formula Presented), where M(n) is the time for n-bit multiplication. We outline some of the results and algorithms given in Pi and the AGM, and present some related (but new) results. In particular, we improve the published error bounds for some quadratically and quartically convergent algorithms for π, such as the Gauss–Legendre algorithm. We show that an iteration of the Borwein-Borwein quartic algorithm for π is equivalent to two iterations of the Gauss–Legendre quadratic algorithm for π, in the sense that they produce exactly the same sequence of approximations to π if performed using exact arithmetic.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationFrom Analysis to Visualization - A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Jonathan M. Borwein, 2017
    EditorsDavid H. Bailey, Naomi Simone Borwein, Richard P. Brent, Regina S. Burachik, Judy-anne Heather Osborn, Brailey Sims, Qiji J. Zhu
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages323-347
    Number of pages25
    ISBN (Print)9783030365677
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020
    EventJonathan Borwein Commemorative Conference, JBCC 2017 - Newcastle, Australia
    Duration: 25 Sept 201729 Sept 2017

    Publication series

    NameSpringer Proceedings in Mathematics and Statistics
    Volume313
    ISSN (Print)2194-1009
    ISSN (Electronic)2194-1017

    Conference

    ConferenceJonathan Borwein Commemorative Conference, JBCC 2017
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    CityNewcastle
    Period25/09/1729/09/17

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