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Comparing exact expressions vs real numbers


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1












$begingroup$


Often I need to generate some data using some symmetry operations and I usually keep them as exact expressions (for example, consider the points on a triangular grid {{-(1/2), Sqrt[3]/2}, {-(1/2), -(Sqrt[3]/2)}, {1, 0}, ...}) and I need to compare different points, something like if a1+b==a2. I am trying to find an efficient way to do that.



Consider this



a=-2/Sqrt[3] + Sqrt[3]
b=Sqrt[1/4 + (2/Sqrt[3] - Sqrt[3]/2)^2]

{N[a],N[b]}



{0.57735,0.57735}




Now, a==b does not do anything.



N[a] == N[b]
N[a]-N[b] == 0
N[a - b] == 0



True



False



False




Because N[a-b]=-3.33067*10^-16. So the way out is



Chop@N[a - b] == 0



True




However,



RepeatedTiming[N[a] == N[b]]
RepeatedTiming[Chop@N[a - b] == 0]



{5.4*10^-6, True}



{9.07*10^-6, True}




On the other hand,



a1 = N[a]; b1 = N[b];
RepeatedTiming[a1 == b1]



{2.7*10^-7, True}




So my questions are




  1. Is it better to use real numbers if I have to do such comparisons?


  2. What would be the best (least time consuming when dealing with a large number of inputs) way to compare exact expressions if I have to use exact expressions?











share|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    You'll want to be careful if you find cases like this. N[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)]] - N[-1]
    $endgroup$
    – J. M. is computer-less
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    PossibleZeroQ could help.
    $endgroup$
    – Roman
    5 hours ago
















1












$begingroup$


Often I need to generate some data using some symmetry operations and I usually keep them as exact expressions (for example, consider the points on a triangular grid {{-(1/2), Sqrt[3]/2}, {-(1/2), -(Sqrt[3]/2)}, {1, 0}, ...}) and I need to compare different points, something like if a1+b==a2. I am trying to find an efficient way to do that.



Consider this



a=-2/Sqrt[3] + Sqrt[3]
b=Sqrt[1/4 + (2/Sqrt[3] - Sqrt[3]/2)^2]

{N[a],N[b]}



{0.57735,0.57735}




Now, a==b does not do anything.



N[a] == N[b]
N[a]-N[b] == 0
N[a - b] == 0



True



False



False




Because N[a-b]=-3.33067*10^-16. So the way out is



Chop@N[a - b] == 0



True




However,



RepeatedTiming[N[a] == N[b]]
RepeatedTiming[Chop@N[a - b] == 0]



{5.4*10^-6, True}



{9.07*10^-6, True}




On the other hand,



a1 = N[a]; b1 = N[b];
RepeatedTiming[a1 == b1]



{2.7*10^-7, True}




So my questions are




  1. Is it better to use real numbers if I have to do such comparisons?


  2. What would be the best (least time consuming when dealing with a large number of inputs) way to compare exact expressions if I have to use exact expressions?











share|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    You'll want to be careful if you find cases like this. N[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)]] - N[-1]
    $endgroup$
    – J. M. is computer-less
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    PossibleZeroQ could help.
    $endgroup$
    – Roman
    5 hours ago














1












1








1





$begingroup$


Often I need to generate some data using some symmetry operations and I usually keep them as exact expressions (for example, consider the points on a triangular grid {{-(1/2), Sqrt[3]/2}, {-(1/2), -(Sqrt[3]/2)}, {1, 0}, ...}) and I need to compare different points, something like if a1+b==a2. I am trying to find an efficient way to do that.



Consider this



a=-2/Sqrt[3] + Sqrt[3]
b=Sqrt[1/4 + (2/Sqrt[3] - Sqrt[3]/2)^2]

{N[a],N[b]}



{0.57735,0.57735}




Now, a==b does not do anything.



N[a] == N[b]
N[a]-N[b] == 0
N[a - b] == 0



True



False



False




Because N[a-b]=-3.33067*10^-16. So the way out is



Chop@N[a - b] == 0



True




However,



RepeatedTiming[N[a] == N[b]]
RepeatedTiming[Chop@N[a - b] == 0]



{5.4*10^-6, True}



{9.07*10^-6, True}




On the other hand,



a1 = N[a]; b1 = N[b];
RepeatedTiming[a1 == b1]



{2.7*10^-7, True}




So my questions are




  1. Is it better to use real numbers if I have to do such comparisons?


  2. What would be the best (least time consuming when dealing with a large number of inputs) way to compare exact expressions if I have to use exact expressions?











share|improve this question









$endgroup$




Often I need to generate some data using some symmetry operations and I usually keep them as exact expressions (for example, consider the points on a triangular grid {{-(1/2), Sqrt[3]/2}, {-(1/2), -(Sqrt[3]/2)}, {1, 0}, ...}) and I need to compare different points, something like if a1+b==a2. I am trying to find an efficient way to do that.



Consider this



a=-2/Sqrt[3] + Sqrt[3]
b=Sqrt[1/4 + (2/Sqrt[3] - Sqrt[3]/2)^2]

{N[a],N[b]}



{0.57735,0.57735}




Now, a==b does not do anything.



N[a] == N[b]
N[a]-N[b] == 0
N[a - b] == 0



True



False



False




Because N[a-b]=-3.33067*10^-16. So the way out is



Chop@N[a - b] == 0



True




However,



RepeatedTiming[N[a] == N[b]]
RepeatedTiming[Chop@N[a - b] == 0]



{5.4*10^-6, True}



{9.07*10^-6, True}




On the other hand,



a1 = N[a]; b1 = N[b];
RepeatedTiming[a1 == b1]



{2.7*10^-7, True}




So my questions are




  1. Is it better to use real numbers if I have to do such comparisons?


  2. What would be the best (least time consuming when dealing with a large number of inputs) way to compare exact expressions if I have to use exact expressions?








numerical-value






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 5 hours ago









SumitSumit

11.7k21955




11.7k21955












  • $begingroup$
    You'll want to be careful if you find cases like this. N[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)]] - N[-1]
    $endgroup$
    – J. M. is computer-less
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    PossibleZeroQ could help.
    $endgroup$
    – Roman
    5 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    You'll want to be careful if you find cases like this. N[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)]] - N[-1]
    $endgroup$
    – J. M. is computer-less
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    PossibleZeroQ could help.
    $endgroup$
    – Roman
    5 hours ago
















$begingroup$
You'll want to be careful if you find cases like this. N[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)]] - N[-1]
$endgroup$
– J. M. is computer-less
5 hours ago






$begingroup$
You'll want to be careful if you find cases like this. N[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)]] - N[-1]
$endgroup$
– J. M. is computer-less
5 hours ago














$begingroup$
PossibleZeroQ could help.
$endgroup$
– Roman
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
PossibleZeroQ could help.
$endgroup$
– Roman
5 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4












$begingroup$

PossibleZeroQ is rather fast and does precisely what you're looking for:



RepeatedTiming[PossibleZeroQ[a - b]]



{3.2*10^-6, True}




@JM's difficult case is handled correctly:



PossibleZeroQ[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)] - (-1)]



False







share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













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    1 Answer
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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    4












    $begingroup$

    PossibleZeroQ is rather fast and does precisely what you're looking for:



    RepeatedTiming[PossibleZeroQ[a - b]]



    {3.2*10^-6, True}




    @JM's difficult case is handled correctly:



    PossibleZeroQ[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)] - (-1)]



    False







    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$


















      4












      $begingroup$

      PossibleZeroQ is rather fast and does precisely what you're looking for:



      RepeatedTiming[PossibleZeroQ[a - b]]



      {3.2*10^-6, True}




      @JM's difficult case is handled correctly:



      PossibleZeroQ[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)] - (-1)]



      False







      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$
















        4












        4








        4





        $begingroup$

        PossibleZeroQ is rather fast and does precisely what you're looking for:



        RepeatedTiming[PossibleZeroQ[a - b]]



        {3.2*10^-6, True}




        @JM's difficult case is handled correctly:



        PossibleZeroQ[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)] - (-1)]



        False







        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        PossibleZeroQ is rather fast and does precisely what you're looking for:



        RepeatedTiming[PossibleZeroQ[a - b]]



        {3.2*10^-6, True}




        @JM's difficult case is handled correctly:



        PossibleZeroQ[Sin[2017 2^(1/5)] - (-1)]



        False








        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 1 hour ago

























        answered 2 hours ago









        RomanRoman

        2,714717




        2,714717






























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