Question Q9.1.4
The functions $f(x) = (1-\cos^2x)/x^2$ and $g(x) = \sin^2x / x^2$ are mathematically indistinguishable, but plotted in the region $-0.001 \le x \le 0.001$ show a significant difference. Explain the origin of this difference.
Solution Q9.1.4
The expression 1 - np.cos(x)**2 suffers from catastrophic cancellation close to x=0 resulting in a dramatic loss of precision and wild oscillations in the plot of $f(x)$ (below). Consider, for example, x = 1.e-9: in this case, the difference 1 - np.cos(x)**2 is indistinguishable from zero (at double precision) so f(x) returns 0. Conversely, np.sin(x)**2 is indistinguishable from x**2 and g(x) returns 1.0 correctly.
import numpy as np
import pylab
f = lambda x: (1 - np.cos(x)**2)/x**2
g = lambda x: (np.sin(x)/x)**2
x = np.linspace(-0.0001, 0.0001, 10000)
pylab.plot(x, f(x), label=r'$(1-\cos^2x)/x^2$')
pylab.plot(x, g(x), label=r'$\sin^2x/x^2$')
pylab.ylim(0.99995, 1.00005)
pylab.legend()
pylab.show()
