Diagrammatic representation for interval arithmetic (Q5929745): Difference between revisions

For \(a,b\in \mathbb R\) with \(a \leq b\) define \([a,b]:=\{x\mid x\in\mathbb R\), \(a\leq x\leq b\}\), and for \(m,r\in \mathbb R\) with \(r\geq 0\) define \(\langle m,r\rangle:=\{x\mid x\in\mathbb R\), \(|x-m|\leq r\}\). Of course, \([a,b]\) and \(\langle m,r\rangle\) are equivalent notations for closed intervals in \(\mathbb R\), we have \([a,b]=\langle m,r\rangle\) with \(m=\frac{1}{2}(a+b)\) and \(r=\frac{1}{2}(b-a)\), or vice versa with \(a=m-r\) and \(b=m+r\). Let \(I(\mathbb R)\) denote the collection of all closed intervals in \(\mathbb R\). The author chooses the \(\langle m,r\rangle\)-notation and depicts elements of \(I(\mathbb R)\) in the \(m\)-\(r\)-plane. Rational operations with \(X,Y\in I(\mathbb R)\) are defined as \(X*Y:=\{x*y\mid x\in X\), \(y\in Y\}\) for \(*\in\{+,-,\cdot,/\}\) except division in case \(0\in Y\). The results of such operations are again elements of \(I(\mathbb R)\). This is all well-known, but what is new in the paper is the geometric interpretation. To each operation in \(I(\mathbb R)\) there corresponds a diagram in the \(m\)-\(r\)-plane. And these diagrams reveal properties of the algebraic structure \(\{I(\mathbb R),+,-,\cdot ,/\}\). The author hopes that the diagrammatic representation may become a helpful feature in interval analysis, in a similar manner as the complex plane representation of \(\mathbb C\) facilitated the development of complex analysis.