Is there a Matrix module that supports BigFloat?

metadoktor has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

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Re: Is there a Matrix module that supports BigFloat? by thor (Priest) on May 17, 2002 at 12:33 UTC
Can you factor out a small number, say 1e-6 or something? This will help the values in your matrix stay "large" (for certain values of large). You can re-factor in the 1e-6 after you have done your matrix calculations. Also, what are you doing with the matricies? If you are attempting to do anything even remotely large or complex(numerical analysis for instance), then matlab is your tool, not perl. Matlab is optimized to handle matricies. You want an LDU decomposition? BAM! It's there. Eigenvalues/eigenvectores? You got it. The list goes on.	[reply]
Re: Re: Is there a Matrix module that supports BigFloat? by metadoktor (Hermit) on May 17, 2002 at 14:52 UTC
Can you factor out a small number, say 1e-6 or something? No, there aren't any small numbers. They are all very big with a large number of significant digits. I already know about Matlab (and the version 4.0? compatible one called GNU Octave) but I don't want to shell out cash for something that I might only use a few times besides if I have to I will write a program that will solve the set of simultaneous equations using Math::BigFloat. Also, what are you doing with the matrices? Solving a set of simultaneous equations with very large coefficients that have a large number of significant digits. metadoktor "The doktor is in."	[reply]
Re: Is there a Matrix module that supports BigFloat? by jepri (Parson) on May 17, 2002 at 15:51 UTC
Have a look at SciLab. It's an almost exact clone of Matlab - to the point where I did a math course which required matlab, only I used scilab. When submitting my code all I had to change was the comment symbol and the function parameters were back to front. Even the function names are the same.. All your old friends are there, like plot, plot2d and plot3d, as well as some useful expansion toolboxes. It goes without saying that it does matrixes very well. If you really want a perl solution, there are some CPAN modules called PDL that are apparently as powerful as matlab - the learning curve was too steep for me. ____________________ Jeremy I didn't believe in evil until I dated it.	[reply]
Re: Re: Is there a Matrix module that supports BigFloat? by metadoktor (Hermit) on May 17, 2002 at 16:13 UTC
Have a look at SciLab Thank you. I will look for SciLab. there are some CPAN modules called PDL that are apparently Yes, I know. I pointed out PDL::Matrix in my post. The documentation for the module doesn't seem to indicate that it handles very large numbers. metadoktor "The doktor is in."	[reply]
Re^3: Is there a Matrix module that supports BigFloat? by etj (Priest) on Jul 05, 2022 at 21:57 UTC
Even in 2022, PDL does not support arbitrary-precision maths. It does (as of 2.064) support C "long double", but that is only guaranteed to be "at least" as precise as double. However! See Re^4: PDL datatype for discussion of how to actually implement this.	[reply]