jhplot.math.num
Class ContinuedFraction

java.lang.Object
  jhplot.math.num.IterativeMethod
      jhplot.math.num.ContinuedFraction

public abstract class ContinuedFraction
extends IterativeMethod

This class provides the means to evaluate continued fractions (1). To create a continued fraction, authors subclass this class and provided concrete a and b coefficient methods.

For example, this is the continued fraction for the exponential function defined by (2):

 ContinuedFraction exponential = new ContinuedFraction() {
     public double getA(int n, double x) {
         if (n == 0) {
             return 1.0;
         } else if (n % 2 == 0) { // even
             return 2.0;
         } else { // odd
             return n;
         }
     }
    
     public double getB(int n, double x) {
         if (n % 2 == 0) { // even
             return x;
         } else { // odd
             return -x;
         }
 }
 

References:

1. Eric W. Weisstein. "Continued Fraction." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ContinuedFraction.html
2. Exponential Function: Continued Fraction Representation. http://functions.wolfram.com/01.03.10.0001.01

Method Summary

double

evaluate(double x) Evaluate this continued fraction at the given value.

Methods inherited from class jhplot.math.num.IterativeMethod

getMaximumIterations, getMaximumRelativeError, iterate, setMaximumIterations, setMaximumRelativeError

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

equals, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Method Detail

evaluate

public double evaluate(double x)
                throws NumericException

Evaluate this continued fraction at the given value.

Parameters:

x - the point of evalutation.

Returns:

the value of this continued fraction evaluated at x.

Throws:

NumericException - if the continued fraction could not be evaluated.