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# Fraction.js - ℚ in JavaScript
[](https://npmjs.org/package/fraction.js "View this project on npm") [](http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
Tired of inprecise numbers represented by doubles, which have to store rational and irrational numbers like PI or sqrt(2) the same way? Obviously the following problem is preventable:
```javascript 1 / 98 * 98 // = 0.9999999999999999 ```
If you need more precision or just want a fraction as a result, just include *Fraction.js*:
```javascript var Fraction = require('fraction.js'); // or import Fraction from 'fraction.js'; ```
and give it a trial:
```javascript Fraction(1).div(98).mul(98) // = 1 ```
Internally, numbers are represented as *numerator / denominator*, which adds just a little overhead. However, the library is written with performance and accuracy in mind, which makes it the perfect basis for [Polynomial.js](https://github.com/infusion/Polynomial.js) and [Math.js](https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs).
Convert decimal to fraction === The simplest job for fraction.js is to get a fraction out of a decimal: ```javascript var x = new Fraction(1.88); var res = x.toFraction(true); // String "1 22/25" ```
Examples / Motivation === A simple example might be
```javascript var f = new Fraction("9.4'31'"); // 9.4313131313131... f.mul([-4, 3]).mod("4.'8'"); // 4.88888888888888... ``` The result is
```javascript console.log(f.toFraction()); // -4154 / 1485 ``` You could of course also access the sign (s), numerator (n) and denominator (d) on your own: ```javascript f.s * f.n / f.d = -1 * 4154 / 1485 = -2.797306... ```
If you would try to calculate it yourself, you would come up with something like:
```javascript (9.4313131 * (-4 / 3)) % 4.888888 = -2.797308133... ```
Quite okay, but yea - not as accurate as it could be.
Laplace Probability === Simple example. What's the probability of throwing a 3, and 1 or 4, and 2 or 4 or 6 with a fair dice?
P({3}): ```javascript var p = new Fraction([3].length, 6).toString(); // 0.1(6) ```
P({1, 4}): ```javascript var p = new Fraction([1, 4].length, 6).toString(); // 0.(3) ```
P({2, 4, 6}): ```javascript var p = new Fraction([2, 4, 6].length, 6).toString(); // 0.5 ```
Convert degrees/minutes/seconds to precise rational representation: ===
57+45/60+17/3600 ```javascript var deg = 57; // 57° var min = 45; // 45 Minutes var sec = 17; // 17 Seconds
new Fraction(deg).add(min, 60).add(sec, 3600).toString() // -> 57.7547(2) ```
Rational approximation of irrational numbers ===
Now it's getting messy ;d To approximate a number like *sqrt(5) - 2* with a numerator and denominator, you can reformat the equation as follows: *pow(n / d + 2, 2) = 5*.
Then the following algorithm will generate the rational number besides the binary representation.
```javascript var x = "/", s = "";
var a = new Fraction(0), b = new Fraction(1); for (var n = 0; n <= 10; n++) {
var c = a.add(b).div(2);
console.log(n + "\t" + a + "\t" + b + "\t" + c + "\t" + x);
if (c.add(2).pow(2) < 5) { a = c; x = "1"; } else { b = c; x = "0"; } s+= x; } console.log(s) ```
The result is
``` n a[n] b[n] c[n] x[n] 0 0/1 1/1 1/2 / 1 0/1 1/2 1/4 0 2 0/1 1/4 1/8 0 3 1/8 1/4 3/16 1 4 3/16 1/4 7/32 1 5 7/32 1/4 15/64 1 6 15/64 1/4 31/128 1 7 15/64 31/128 61/256 0 8 15/64 61/256 121/512 0 9 15/64 121/512 241/1024 0 10 241/1024 121/512 483/2048 1 ``` Thus the approximation after 11 iterations of the bisection method is *483 / 2048* and the binary representation is 0.00111100011 (see [WolframAlpha](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sqrt%285%29-2+binary))
I published another example on how to approximate PI with fraction.js on my [blog](http://www.xarg.org/2014/03/precise-calculations-in-javascript/) (Still not the best idea to approximate irrational numbers, but it illustrates the capabilities of Fraction.js perfectly).
Get the exact fractional part of a number --- ```javascript var f = new Fraction("-6.(3416)"); console.log("" + f.mod(1).abs()); // 0.(3416) ```
Mathematical correct modulo --- The behaviour on negative congruences is different to most modulo implementations in computer science. Even the *mod()* function of Fraction.js behaves in the typical way. To solve the problem of having the mathematical correct modulo with Fraction.js you could come up with this:
```javascript var a = -1; var b = 10.99;
console.log(new Fraction(a) .mod(b)); // Not correct, usual Modulo
console.log(new Fraction(a) .mod(b).add(b).mod(b)); // Correct! Mathematical Modulo ```
fmod() impreciseness circumvented --- It turns out that Fraction.js outperforms almost any fmod() implementation, including JavaScript itself, [php.js](http://phpjs.org/functions/fmod/), C++, Python, Java and even Wolframalpha due to the fact that numbers like 0.05, 0.1, ... are infinite decimal in base 2.
The equation *fmod(4.55, 0.05)* gives *0.04999999999999957*, wolframalpha says *1/20*. The correct answer should be **zero**, as 0.05 divides 4.55 without any remainder.
Parser ===
Any function (see below) as well as the constructor of the *Fraction* class parses its input and reduce it to the smallest term.
You can pass either Arrays, Objects, Integers, Doubles or Strings.
Arrays / Objects --- ```javascript new Fraction(numerator, denominator); new Fraction([numerator, denominator]); new Fraction({n: numerator, d: denominator}); ```
Integers --- ```javascript new Fraction(123); ```
Doubles --- ```javascript new Fraction(55.4); ```
**Note:** If you pass a double as it is, Fraction.js will perform a number analysis based on Farey Sequences. If you concern performance, cache Fraction.js objects and pass arrays/objects.
The method is really precise, but too large exact numbers, like 1234567.9991829 will result in a wrong approximation. If you want to keep the number as it is, convert it to a string, as the string parser will not perform any further observations. If you have problems with the approximation, in the file `examples/approx.js` is a different approximation algorithm, which might work better in some more specific use-cases.
Strings --- ```javascript new Fraction("123.45"); new Fraction("123/45"); // A rational number represented as two decimals, separated by a slash new Fraction("123:45"); // A rational number represented as two decimals, separated by a colon new Fraction("4 123/45"); // A rational number represented as a whole number and a fraction new Fraction("123.'456'"); // Note the quotes, see below! new Fraction("123.(456)"); // Note the brackets, see below! new Fraction("123.45'6'"); // Note the quotes, see below! new Fraction("123.45(6)"); // Note the brackets, see below! ```
Two arguments --- ```javascript new Fraction(3, 2); // 3/2 = 1.5 ```
Repeating decimal places --- *Fraction.js* can easily handle repeating decimal places. For example *1/3* is *0.3333...*. There is only one repeating digit. As you can see in the examples above, you can pass a number like *1/3* as "0.'3'" or "0.(3)", which are synonym. There are no tests to parse something like 0.166666666 to 1/6! If you really want to handle this number, wrap around brackets on your own with the function below for example: 0.1(66666666)
Assume you want to divide 123.32 / 33.6(567). [WolframAlpha](http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=123.32+%2F+%2812453%2F370%29) states that you'll get a period of 1776 digits. *Fraction.js* comes to the same result. Give it a try:
```javascript var f = new Fraction("123.32"); console.log("Bam: " + f.div("33.6(567)")); ```
To automatically make a number like "0.123123123" to something more Fraction.js friendly like "0.(123)", I hacked this little brute force algorithm in a 10 minutes. Improvements are welcome...
```javascript function formatDecimal(str) {
var comma, pre, offset, pad, times, repeat;
if (-1 === (comma = str.indexOf("."))) return str;
pre = str.substr(0, comma + 1); str = str.substr(comma + 1);
for (var i = 0; i < str.length; i++) {
offset = str.substr(0, i);
for (var j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
pad = str.substr(i, j + 1);
times = Math.ceil((str.length - offset.length) / pad.length);
repeat = new Array(times + 1).join(pad); // Silly String.repeat hack
if (0 === (offset + repeat).indexOf(str)) { return pre + offset + "(" + pad + ")"; } } } return null; }
var f, x = formatDecimal("13.0123123123"); // = 13.0(123) if (x !== null) { f = new Fraction(x); } ```
Attributes ===
The Fraction object allows direct access to the numerator, denominator and sign attributes. It is ensured that only the sign-attribute holds sign information so that a sign comparison is only necessary against this attribute.
```javascript var f = new Fraction('-1/2'); console.log(f.n); // Numerator: 1 console.log(f.d); // Denominator: 2 console.log(f.s); // Sign: -1 ```
Functions ===
Fraction abs() --- Returns the actual number without any sign information
Fraction neg() --- Returns the actual number with flipped sign in order to get the additive inverse
Fraction add(n) --- Returns the sum of the actual number and the parameter n
Fraction sub(n) --- Returns the difference of the actual number and the parameter n
Fraction mul(n) --- Returns the product of the actual number and the parameter n
Fraction div(n) --- Returns the quotient of the actual number and the parameter n
Fraction pow(exp) --- Returns the power of the actual number, raised to an possible rational exponent. If the result becomes non-rational the function returns `null`.
Fraction mod(n) --- Returns the modulus (rest of the division) of the actual object and n (this % n). It's a much more precise [fmod()](#fmod-impreciseness-circumvented) if you like. Please note that *mod()* is just like the modulo operator of most programming languages. If you want a mathematical correct modulo, see [here](#mathematical-correct-modulo).
Fraction mod() --- Returns the modulus (rest of the division) of the actual object (numerator mod denominator)
Fraction gcd(n) --- Returns the fractional greatest common divisor
Fraction lcm(n) --- Returns the fractional least common multiple
Fraction ceil([places=0-16]) --- Returns the ceiling of a rational number with Math.ceil
Fraction floor([places=0-16]) --- Returns the floor of a rational number with Math.floor
Fraction round([places=0-16]) --- Returns the rational number rounded with Math.round
Fraction roundTo(multiple) --- Rounds a fraction to the closest multiple of another fraction.
Fraction inverse() --- Returns the multiplicative inverse of the actual number (n / d becomes d / n) in order to get the reciprocal
Fraction simplify([eps=0.001]) --- Simplifies the rational number under a certain error threshold. Ex. `0.333` will be `1/3` with `eps=0.001`
boolean equals(n) --- Check if two numbers are equal
int compare(n) --- Compare two numbers. ``` result < 0: n is greater than actual number result > 0: n is smaller than actual number result = 0: n is equal to the actual number ```
boolean divisible(n) --- Check if two numbers are divisible (n divides this)
double valueOf() --- Returns a decimal representation of the fraction
String toString([decimalPlaces=15]) --- Generates an exact string representation of the actual object. For repeated decimal places all digits are collected within brackets, like `1/3 = "0.(3)"`. For all other numbers, up to `decimalPlaces` significant digits are collected - which includes trailing zeros if the number is getting truncated. However, `1/2 = "0.5"` without trailing zeros of course.
**Note:** As `valueOf()` and `toString()` are provided, `toString()` is only called implicitly in a real string context. Using the plus-operator like `"123" + new Fraction` will call valueOf(), because JavaScript tries to combine two primitives first and concatenates them later, as string will be the more dominant type. `alert(new Fraction)` or `String(new Fraction)` on the other hand will do what you expect. If you really want to have control, you should call `toString()` or `valueOf()` explicitly!
String toLatex(excludeWhole=false) --- Generates an exact LaTeX representation of the actual object. You can see a [live demo](http://www.xarg.org/2014/03/precise-calculations-in-javascript/) on my blog.
The optional boolean parameter indicates if you want to exclude the whole part. "1 1/3" instead of "4/3"
String toFraction(excludeWhole=false) --- Gets a string representation of the fraction
The optional boolean parameter indicates if you want to exclude the whole part. "1 1/3" instead of "4/3"
Array toContinued() --- Gets an array of the fraction represented as a continued fraction. The first element always contains the whole part.
```javascript var f = new Fraction('88/33'); var c = f.toContinued(); // [2, 1, 2] ```
Fraction clone() --- Creates a copy of the actual Fraction object
Exceptions === If a really hard error occurs (parsing error, division by zero), *fraction.js* throws exceptions! Please make sure you handle them correctly.
Installation === Installing fraction.js is as easy as cloning this repo or use the following command:
``` npm install fraction.js ```
Using Fraction.js with the browser === ```html <script src="fraction.js"></script> <script> console.log(Fraction("123/456")); </script> ```
Using Fraction.js with TypeScript === ```js import Fraction from "fraction.js"; console.log(Fraction("123/456")); ```
Coding Style === As every library I publish, fraction.js is also built to be as small as possible after compressing it with Google Closure Compiler in advanced mode. Thus the coding style orientates a little on maxing-out the compression rate. Please make sure you keep this style if you plan to extend the library.
Precision === Fraction.js tries to circumvent floating point errors, by having an internal representation of numerator and denominator. As it relies on JavaScript, there is also a limit. The biggest number representable is `Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER / 1` and the smallest is `-1 / Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER`, with `Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER=9007199254740991`. If this is not enough, there is `bigfraction.js` shipped experimentally, which relies on `BigInt` and should become the new Fraction.js eventually.
Testing === If you plan to enhance the library, make sure you add test cases and all the previous tests are passing. You can test the library with
``` npm test ```
Copyright and licensing === Copyright (c) 2023, [Robert Eisele](https://raw.org/) Licensed under the MIT license.
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