Files
IronCalc/docs/src/functions/engineering/erfc-precise.md
2025-01-20 17:22:33 +01:00

3.6 KiB

layout, outline, lang
layout outline lang
doc deep en-US

ERFC.PRECISE function

::: warning Note: This draft page is under construction 🚧 :::

Overview

ERFC.PRECISE (ERror Function Complementary) is a function of the Engineering category that calculates a value for the complementary error function, defined by \text{erfc}(x) = 1 - \text{erf}(x). Also known as the complementary Gauss error function, the complementary error function represents the probability of a random variable falling outside a certain range, given that it follows a specified normal distribution.

ERFC.PRECISE is provided for compatibility with other spreadsheets. For all real values of x, \text{ERFC.PRECISE}(x)=\text{ERFC}(x).

Usage

Syntax

ERFC.PRECISE(X) => erfc.precise

Argument descriptions

  • X (number, required). The lower integration limit to be used to calculate the complementary error function. ERFC.PRECISE integrates over the range [X, \infty).

Additional guidance

None.

Returned value

ERFC.PRECISE returns a number that is the complementary error function probability for the specified argument. The returned value lies in range [0, 2].

Error conditions

  • In common with many other IronCalc functions, ERFC.PRECISE propagates errors that are found in its argument.
  • If no argument, or more than one argument, is supplied, then ERFC.PRECISE returns the #ERROR! error.
  • If the value of any argument is not (or cannot be converted to) a number, then ERFC.PRECISE returns the #VALUE! error.
  • For some argument values, ERFC.PRECISE may return the #DIV/0! error.

Details

  • The complementary error function arises in many scientific, engineering, and mathematical fields and is commonly defined by the following equation (applicable for any real number x):

\text{erfc}(x) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi} }\: \int_{x}^{\infty} e^{-t^2}\:dt
  • The figure below illustrates the output of the ERFC.PRECISE function for values of x in the range -3 to +3.
Graph showing erfc(x) for x between -3 and +3.
  • This figure illustrates some of the key characteristics of the complementary error function:

    • \text{erfc}(0) = 1
    • \text{erfc}(-x) = 2-\text{erfc}(x)
    • As x \rightarrow \infty, \text{erfc}(x) \rightarrow 0
    • As x \rightarrow -\infty, \text{erfc}(x) \rightarrow 2
  • The complementary error function is a transcendental, non-algebraic mathematical function. IronCalc implements the ERFC.PRECISE function by numerical approximation using a power series.

Examples

See some examples in IronCalc.