# Basic usage

To avoid inadvertently overriding other functions or objects, explicitly import only the needed objects, or use the `mpmath.` or `mp.` namespaces:

    >>> from mpmath import sin
    >>> sin(1)
    mpf('0.8414709848078965')

    >>> import mpmath
    >>> mpmath.sin(1)
    mpf('0.8414709848078965')

    >>> from mpmath import mp  # mp context object -- to be explained
    >>> mp.sin(1)
    mpf('0.8414709848078965')

Note

Importing everything with `from mpmath import *` can be convenient, especially when using mpmath interactively, but is best to avoid such import statements in production code, as they make it unclear which names are present in the namespace and wildcard-imported names may conflict with other modules or variable names.

## Number types

Mpmath provides the following numerical types:

> Class | Description
> --- | ---
> `mpf` | Real float
> `mpc` | Complex float
> `matrix` | Matrix

The following section will provide a very short introduction to the types `mpf` and `mpc`. Intervals and matrices are described further in the documentation chapters on interval arithmetic and matrices / linear algebra.

The `mpf` type is analogous to Python’s built-in `float`. It holds a real number or one of the special values `inf` (positive infinity), `-inf` (negative infinity) and `nan` (not-a-number, indicating an indeterminate result). You can create `mpf` instances from strings, integers, floats, and other `mpf` instances:

    >>> from mpmath import mpf, mpc, mp
    >>> mpf(4)
    mpf('4.0')
    >>> mpf(2.5)
    mpf('2.5')
    >>> mpf("1.25e6")
    mpf('1250000.0')
    >>> mpf(mpf(2))
    mpf('2.0')
    >>> mpf("inf")
    mpf('inf')

The `mpc` type represents a complex number in rectangular form as a pair of `mpf` instances. It can be constructed from a Python `complex`, a real number, or a pair of real numbers:

    >>> mpc(2,3)
    mpc(real='2.0', imag='3.0')
    >>> mpc(complex(2,3)).imag
    mpf('3.0')

You can mix `mpf` and `mpc` instances with each other and with Python numbers:

    >>> mpf(3) + 2*mpf('2.5') + 1.0
    mpf('9.0')
    >>> mp.dps = 15      # Set precision (see below)
    >>> mpc(1j)**0.5
    mpc(real='0.70710678118654757', imag='0.70710678118654757')

## Setting the precision

Mpmath uses a global working precision; it does not keep track of the precision or accuracy of individual numbers. Performing an arithmetic operation or calling `mpf()` rounds the result to the current working precision. The working precision is controlled by a context object called `mp`, which has the following default state:

    >>> print(mp)
    Mpmath settings:
      mp.prec = 53                [default: 53]
      mp.dps = 15                 [default: 15]
      mp.rounding = 'n'           [default: 'n']
      mp.trap_complex = False     [default: False]

The term prec denotes the binary precision (measured in bits) while dps (short for decimal places) is the decimal precision. Binary and decimal precision are related roughly according to the formula `prec = 3.33*dps`. For example, it takes a precision of roughly 333 bits to hold an approximation of pi that is accurate to 100 decimal places (actually slightly more than 333 bits is used).

Changing either precision property of the `mp` object automatically updates the other; usually you just want to change the `dps` value:

    >>> mp.dps = 100
    >>> mp.dps
    100
    >>> mp.prec
    336

When the precision has been set, all `mpf` operations are carried out at that precision:

    >>> mp.dps = 50
    >>> mpf(1) / 6
    mpf('0.16666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666656')
    >>> mp.dps = 25
    >>> mpf(2) ** mpf('0.5')
    mpf('1.414213562373095048801688713')

The precision of complex arithmetic is also controlled by the `mp` object:

    >>> mp.dps = 10
    >>> mpc(1,2) / 3
    mpc(real='0.3333333333321', imag='0.6666666666642')

There is no restriction on the magnitude of numbers. An `mpf` can for example hold an approximation of a large Mersenne prime:

    >>> mp.dps = 15
    >>> print(mpf(2)**32582657 - 1)
    1.24575026015369e+9808357

Or why not 1 googolplex:

    >>> print(mpf(10) ** (10**100))
    1.0e+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000...

The (binary) exponent is stored exactly and is independent of the precision.

The `rounding` property control default rounding mode for the context:

    >>> mp.rounding  # round to nearest
    'n'
    >>> sin(1)
    mpf('0.8414709848078965')
    >>> mp.rounding = 'u'  # round up
    >>> sin(1)
    mpf('0.84147098480789662')
    >>> mp.rounding = 'n'

### Temporarily changing the precision

It is often useful to change the precision during only part of a calculation. A way to temporarily increase the precision and then restore it is as follows:

    >>> mp.prec += 2
    >>> # do_something()
    >>> mp.prec -= 2

The `with` statement along with the mpmath functions `workprec`, `workdps`, `extraprec` and `extradps` can be used to temporarily change precision in a more safe manner:

    >>> from mpmath import extradps, workdps
    >>> with workdps(20):
    ...     print(mpf(1)/7)
    ...     with extradps(10):
    ...         print(mpf(1)/7)
    ...
    0.14285714285714285714
    0.142857142857142857142857142857
    >>> mp.dps
    15

The `with` statement ensures that the precision gets reset when exiting the block, even in the case that an exception is raised.

The `workprec` family of functions can also be used as function decorators:

    >>> @workdps(6)
    ... def f():
    ...     return mpf(1)/3
    ...
    >>> f()
    mpf('0.33333331346511841')

Some functions accept the `prec` and `dps` keyword arguments and this will override the global working precision. Note that this will not affect the precision at which the result is printed, so to get all digits, you must either use increase precision afterward when printing or use `nstr`/`nprint`:

    >>> from mpmath import exp, nprint
    >>> mp.dps = 15
    >>> print(exp(1))
    2.71828182845905
    >>> print(exp(1, dps=50))      # Extra digits won't be printed
    2.71828182845905
    >>> nprint(exp(1, dps=50), 50)
    2.7182818284590452353602874713526624977572470937

Finally, instead of using the global context object `mp`, you can create custom contexts and work with methods of those instances instead of global functions. The working precision will be local to each context object:

    >>> mp2 = mp.clone()
    >>> mp.dps = 10
    >>> mp2.dps = 20
    >>> print(mp.mpf(1) / 3)
    0.3333333333
    >>> print(mp2.mpf(1) / 3)
    0.33333333333333333333

Note: the ability to create multiple contexts is a new feature that is only partially implemented. Not all mpmath functions are yet available as context-local methods. In the present version, you are likely to encounter bugs if you try mixing different contexts.

## Providing correct input

Note that when creating a new `mpf`, the value will at most be as accurate as the input. Be careful when mixing mpmath numbers with Python floats. When working at high precision, fractional `mpf` values should be created from strings or integers:

    >>> mp.dps = 30
    >>> mpf(10.9)   # bad
    mpf('10.9000000000000003552713678800501')
    >>> mpf(1090/100)  # bad, beware Python's true division produces floats
    mpf('10.9000000000000003552713678800501')
    >>> mpf('10.9')  # good
    mpf('10.8999999999999999999999999999997')
    >>> mpf(109) / mpf(10)   # also good
    mpf('10.8999999999999999999999999999997')
    >>> mp.dps = 15

(Binary fractions such as 0.5, 1.5, 0.75, 0.125, etc, are generally safe as input, however, since those can be represented exactly by Python floats.)

## Printing

By default, the `repr()` of a number includes its type signature. This way `eval` can be used to recreate a number from its string representation:

    >>> eval(repr(mpf(2.5)))
    mpf('2.5')

Prettier output can be obtained by using `str()` or `print`, which hide the `mpf` and `mpc` signatures and also suppress rounding artifacts in the last few digits:

    >>> mpf("3.14159")
    mpf('3.1415899999999999')
    >>> print(mpf("3.14159"))
    3.14159
    >>> print(mpc(1j)**0.5)
    (0.707106781186548 + 0.707106781186548j)

Setting the `mp.pretty` option will use the `str()`-style output for `repr()` as well:

    >>> mp.pretty = True
    >>> mpf(0.6)
    0.6
    >>> mp.pretty = False
    >>> mpf(0.6)
    mpf('0.59999999999999998')

To use enough digits to be able recreate value exactly, set `mp.pretty_dps` to `"repr"` (default value is `"str"`). Same option is used to control default number of digits in the new-style string formatting without format specifier, i.e. `format(exp(mpf(1)))`.

The number of digits with which numbers are printed by default is determined by the working precision. To specify the number of digits to show without changing the working precision, use `format syntax support` or functions `mpmath.nstr()` and `mpmath.nprint()`:

    >>> a = mpf(1) / 6
    >>> a
    mpf('0.16666666666666666')
    >>> f'{a:.8}'
    '0.16666667'
    >>> f'{a:.50}'
    '0.16666666666666665741480812812369549646973609924316'