Difference between revisions of "Error function is odd"
From specialfunctionswiki
(→Proof) |
|||
| (3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
$$\mathrm{erf}(-z)=-\mathrm{erf}(z),$$ | $$\mathrm{erf}(-z)=-\mathrm{erf}(z),$$ | ||
where $\mathrm{erf}$ denotes the [[error function]] (i.e. $\mathrm{erf}$ is an [[odd function]]). | where $\mathrm{erf}$ denotes the [[error function]] (i.e. $\mathrm{erf}$ is an [[odd function]]). | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Proof== | |
| − | + | From the definition, | |
| − | + | $$\mathrm{erf}(x)=\dfrac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \displaystyle\int_0^x e^{-\tau^2} \mathrm{d}\tau.$$ | |
| + | So, | ||
| + | $$\begin{array}{ll} | ||
| + | \mathrm{erf}(-x) &= \dfrac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \displaystyle\int_0^{-x} e^{-\tau^2} \mathrm{d}\tau \\ | ||
| + | &\stackrel{u=-\tau}{=} -\dfrac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \displaystyle\int_0^{x} e^{-u^2} \mathrm{d}u, | ||
| + | \end{array}$$ | ||
| + | proving that $\mathrm{erf}$ is odd. $\blacksquare$ | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{BookReference|Handbook of mathematical functions|1964|Milton Abramowitz|author2=Irene A. Stegun|prev=findme|next=Erf of conjugate is conjugate of erf}}: 7.1.9 | * {{BookReference|Handbook of mathematical functions|1964|Milton Abramowitz|author2=Irene A. Stegun|prev=findme|next=Erf of conjugate is conjugate of erf}}: 7.1.9 | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Theorem]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Proven]] | ||
Latest revision as of 03:41, 28 March 2017
Theorem
The following formula holds: $$\mathrm{erf}(-z)=-\mathrm{erf}(z),$$ where $\mathrm{erf}$ denotes the error function (i.e. $\mathrm{erf}$ is an odd function).
Proof
From the definition, $$\mathrm{erf}(x)=\dfrac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \displaystyle\int_0^x e^{-\tau^2} \mathrm{d}\tau.$$ So, $$\begin{array}{ll} \mathrm{erf}(-x) &= \dfrac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \displaystyle\int_0^{-x} e^{-\tau^2} \mathrm{d}\tau \\ &\stackrel{u=-\tau}{=} -\dfrac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}} \displaystyle\int_0^{x} e^{-u^2} \mathrm{d}u, \end{array}$$ proving that $\mathrm{erf}$ is odd. $\blacksquare$
References
- 1964: Milton Abramowitz and Irene A. Stegun: Handbook of mathematical functions ... (previous) ... (next): 7.1.9
