Wanted: A calculator that can handle really big integers and fractions

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the need for a calculator capable of handling large integers and fractions, specifically for calculating expressions like \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^{2s+1}}. Users mention that existing tools like mpir.org, which is based on 64-bit numbers, are insufficient for their needs. Python is highlighted as a viable option due to its built-in support for big integers and fractions. Additionally, online calculators such as Wolfram Alpha are recommended for arbitrary precision calculations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of arbitrary precision arithmetic
  • Familiarity with Python's built-in data types, specifically integers and fractions
  • Knowledge of mathematical series and summation notation
  • Basic experience with online computational tools like Wolfram Alpha
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore Python's fractions module for handling rational numbers
  • Research arbitrary precision libraries in various programming languages, focusing on GMP
  • Investigate online calculators that support arbitrary precision rational arithmetic
  • Learn about the mathematical implications of large number calculations in series
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, software developers, and researchers who require precise calculations involving large integers and fractions, particularly in fields such as number theory and computational mathematics.

Svein
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TL;DR
I need a calculator that can handle fractions with really large denominators
I am trying to get one step further with my search for \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^{2s+1}}. Part of the way is to calculate some algebraic expressions containing fractions with really huge numbers (as in (\frac{1}{5^{9}}+\frac{1}{7^{9}}-\frac{1}{17^{9}}-\frac{1}{19^{9}})\div (\frac{2}{6^{9}}-\frac{2}{18^{9}})). Does anybody know of such a calculator or do I have to write it myself?

Yes, I know about mpir.org, but they are based on 64-bit numbers which is too small for me (since 5, 7, 17 and 19 are all prime numbers, adding the fractions will end up in a really huge denominator).
 
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Perhaps one of the arbitrary precision online calculators will do?

Example from my first search hit (notice result is a fraction):
[CODE title="https://apfloat.appspot.com/"](1/(5^9)+1/(7^9)-1/(17^9)-1/(19^9))/(2/(6^9)-2/(18^9))
80281486442205051414723549292278888963072/29680713166750710362839900905033947265625[/CODE]
 
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Why not use python? Big integers are baked in.

As an example:

Python:
$ python

>>> 2**500
3273390607896141870013189696827599152216642046043064789483291368096133796404674554883270092325904157150886684127560071009217256545885393053328527589376L

>>> 2**5000
141246703213942603683520966701614733366889617518454111681368808585711816984270751255808912631671152637335603208431366082764203838069979338335971185726639923431051777851865399011877999645131707069373498212631323752553111215372844035950900535954860733418453405575566736801565587405464699640499050849699472357900905617571376618228216434213181520991556677126498651782204174061830939239176861341383294018240225838692725596147005144243281075275629495339093813198966735633606329691023842454125835888656873133981287240980008838073668221804264432910894030789020219440578198488267339768238872279902157420307247570510423845868872596735891805818727796435753018518086641356012851302546726823009250218328018251907340245449863183265637987862198511046362985461949587281119139907228004385942880953958816554567625296086916885774828934449941362416588675326940332561103664556982622206834474219811081872404929503481991376740379825998791411879802717583885498575115299471743469241117070230398103378615232793710290992656444842895511830355733152020804157920090041811951880456705515468349446182731742327685989277607620709525878318766488368348965015474997864119765441433356928012344111765735336393557879214937004347568208665958717764059293592887514292843557047089164876483116615691886203812997555690171892169733755224469032475078797830901321579940127337210694377283439922280274060798234786740434893458120198341101033812506720046609891160700284002100980452964039788704335302619337597862052192280371481132164147186514169090917191909376L

>>> 2**50000  // is left to the OP to try out.
...
 
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Svein said:
Yes, I know about mpir.org, but they are based on 64-bit numbers.
Is that true? mpir is based on GMP and that caters for arbitrary size integer (numerator, denominator) pairs.

If you just want an online calculator then Wolfram Alpha is the obvious first stop - the answer is apparently $$ \frac{80,281,486,442,205,051,414,723,549,292,278,888,963,072}{29,680,713,166,750,710,362,839,900,905,033,947,265,625} $$
if I copied it correctly.

For many other online calculators and libraries in your favourite language (most of which link in GMP), search for "arbitrary precision rational arithmetic" (or just e.g. "rational arithmetic python").

jedishrfu said:
Why not use python? Big integers are baked in.
Well Big Integers are not very helpful here, but fortunately Python also has Fractions baked in :biggrin:
 
pbuk said:
Is that true? mpir is based on GMP and that caters for arbitrary size integer (numerator, denominator) pairs.
You may well be right, I just scanned through a couple of the header files and only found paragraphs dealing with long and long long.
 
Svein said:
You may well be right, I just scanned through a couple of the header files and only found paragraphs dealing with long and long long.
You didn't see this?
C:
typedef struct
{
  int _mp_alloc;        /* Number of *limbs* allocated and pointed
                   to by the _mp_d field.  */
  int _mp_size;            /* abs(_mp_size) is the number of limbs the
                   last field points to.  If _mp_size is
                   negative this is a negative number.  */
  mp_limb_t *_mp_d;        /* Pointer to the limbs.  */
} __mpz_struct;
The data will be in dynamically allocated memory pointed to by mp_d
 

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