Re: sqrt in kernel?

[Matti Aarnio <matti.aarnio@zmailer.org>]

On Sun, May 20, 2001 at 04:33:20PM -0400, Robert M. Love wrote:
> hi,
> 
> is there a sqrt function in the kernel? any other math functions?

	No.  (Assuming FP math sqrt function is your interest.)

	If you do scaled integers (fractions, with 2^n denominator),
	you can do newton iteration for sqrt nicely.

> i tried finding/grepping around, and found some various arch-specific
> stuff for fpu emulation... is there a general sqrt function?  is there a
> single file to look through with the various math functions?

	Yes.  Userspace.  ( <math.h> )

	As a rule:  NO FP MATH IS ALLOWED IN THE KERNEL!

	Now the question:  Why do you think you need FP math ?

	If your case is non-fast-path, you may do complete
	state save before, and restore after your FP code.


	In some cases even the fast-paths carry FP/MMX code,
	but those are cases where the save/restore overhead
	becomes negligible for all of the other processing
	that is going on.

> thanks,
> -- 
> Robert M. Love
> rml@ufl.edu
> rml@tech9.net

/Matti Aarnio