Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations

Cameron McInally <cameron.mcinally@nyu.edu>
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:55:58 -0400

          From comp.compilers
Related articles
Compiler optimization and floating point operations abidmuslim@gmail.com (Abid) (2013-10-23)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations cameron.mcinally@nyu.edu (Cameron McInally) (2013-10-23)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations gah@ugcs.caltech.edu (glen herrmannsfeldt) (2013-10-24)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations gneuner2@comcast.net (George Neuner) (2013-10-24)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations jm@bourguet.org (Jean-Marc Bourguet) (2013-10-24)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations sgk@troutmask.apl.washington.edu (Steven G. Kargl) (2013-10-24)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations gneuner2@comcast.net (George Neuner) (2013-10-24)
Re: Compiler optimization and floating point operations gah@ugcs.caltech.edu (glen herrmannsfeldt) (2013-10-24)
[3 later articles]
| List of all articles for this month |
From: Cameron McInally <cameron.mcinally@nyu.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:55:58 -0400
Organization: Compilers Central
References: 13-10-026
Keywords: arithmetic, optimize
Posted-Date: 24 Oct 2013 08:55:15 EDT

Hey Abid,


On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 4:47 PM, Abid <abidmuslim@gmail.com> wrote:
> Does back end compiler optimizations affect the floating point
> accuracy?


Not all optimizations will affect floating point accuracy, but some
may. For example, an optimization that makes use of the associative
property or distributive property can have an impact. This is the
nature of the limited accuracy in floating point numbers.


Another common example is the use of FMA (Fused Multiply Add)
instructions. Although, using these instructions will most likely lead
to better accuracy, since there is only one rounding error applied to
the multiply and the add.


> Is there any research work in this area?


Yes, tons. Search for "floating point accuracy" and you will be sure
to find research going way back.


-Cameron

Post a followup to this message

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.