NAME
    Math::Rational::Approx - approximate a number with a rational number

SYNOPSIS
      use Math::Rational::Approx ':all';

      #
      # find rational approximation with maximum denominator
      ($n, $d, $bounds ) = maxD( $x, 10 );

      # refine; note reuse of $bounds from previous call
      ( $n, $d ) = maxD( $x, 20, $bounds );


      #
      # find rational approximation to arbitrary precision using
      # continued fractions

      # one shot, 10 iterations
      ( $numerator, $denominator ) =
                       contfrac_nd( contfrac( 1.234871035, 10 ) );

      # multiple calls on same number; useful for convergence tests
      # keep array containing terms; get fraction and perhaps test it
      ( $terms, $residual ) = contfrac( 1.234871035, 3 );
      ( $n, $d ) = contfrac_nd( $terms  );

      # continue for an additional number of steps; note reuse of $terms;
      # new terms are appended to it
      ( $terms, $residual ) = contfrac( $residual, 3, $terms );

      # new results
      ( $n, $d ) = contfrac_nd( $terms );

DESCRIPTION
    This module and its object oriented companion modules provide various
    means for finding rational number approximations to real numbers. The
    object oriented versions are suitable when repeated refinements are
    required. See Math::Rational::Approx::MaxD and
    Math::Rational::Approx::ContFrac.

INTERFACE
  Maximum denominator
    maxD finds the best rational approximation (n/d) to a fraction with a
    denominator less than a given value. It uses Farey's sequence and is
    based upon the algorithm given at
    <http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2010/10/20/best-rational-approximation/>.

    This is an iterative procedure, searching a given range for the best
    approximation. To enable further refinement, the limiting denominator
    may by adjusted; the approximation will be continued from the last
    calculation.

    maxD
          ( $n, $d, $bounds ) = maxD( $x, $maxD, );
          ( $n, $d, $bounds ) = maxD( $x, $maxD, $bounds );

        Calculate the rational number approximation to $x with denominator
        no greater than $maxD.

        The optional argument, $bounds, is a reference to a four element
        array containing the initial bounds on the region to search. It
        takes the form

          bounds => [ a, b, c, d ]

        where the elements are all non-negative integers and the bounds are
        given by

          a/b < x < c/d
          b < maxD && d < maxD

        The behavior is undefined if the latter condition is not yet, unless
        the bounds are the result of a previous run of maxD.

        By default it searches from float(x) to "float(x)+1".

        maxD returns the determined numerator and denominator as well as an
        arrayref containing the bounds. If the $bounds argument was
        specified this is returned.

  Continued Fractions
    To approximate using continued fractions, one first generates the terms
    in the fraction using contfrac and then calculates the numerator and
    denominator using contfrac_nd.

    contfrac
          ( $terms, $residual ) = contfrac( $x, $n );
          ( $terms, $residual ) = contfrac( $x, $n, $terms );

        Generate $n terms of the continous fraction representing $x.
        Additional terms may be added in subsequent calls to contfrac by
        passing $residual as the number to approximate and supplying the
        previous $terms arrayref:

          ( $terms, $residual ) = contfrac( $x, 10 );
          ( $terms, $residual ) = contfrac( $residual, 3, $terms );

        The arguments are as follows:

        $x  The number to approximate. It must be positive.

        $n  The number of terms to generate.

        $terms
            *Optional*. An arrayref in which to store the terms. The array
            is appended to.

        Returns:

        $terms
            An arrayref which holds the terms. If one was provided in the
            argument list it is passed through.

        $residual
            The residual of the input number as a Math::BigFloat object.
            This is *not* the difference between the input number and the
            rational approximation. It is suitable for reuse in subsequent
            calls to contfrac.

    contfrac_nd
          ( $nominator, $denominator ) = contfrac_nd( $terms );

        Generate the nominator and denominator from the terms created by
        contfrac. They are returned as Math::BigInt objects.

DEPENDENCIES
    Math::BigFloat, POSIX, Params::Validate

INCOMPATIBILITIES
    None reported.

BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
    No bugs have been reported.

    Please report any bugs or feature requests to
    "bug-math-rational-approx@rt.cpan.org", or through the web interface at
    <http://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=Math-Rational-Approx>.

SEE ALSO
AUTHOR
    Diab Jerius <djerius@cpan.org>

LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT
    Copyright (c) 2012 The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

    Math::Rational::Approx is free software: you can redistribute it and/or
    modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
    by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at
    your option) any later version.

    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
    WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
    Public License for more details.

    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
    with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.