C++ truncation error? - c++

Question

I am learning C++ and came upon this problem while trying to use a formula to calculate the current.
And I got: 0.628818 where the answer should be:
f=200 Hz
R=15 Ohms
C=0.0001 (100µF)
L=0.01476 (14.76mH)
E = 15 V
Answer: I = 0.816918A (calculated)
Below is my code:
#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
int main()
{
const double PI = 3.14159;
double r = 15;
double f = 200;
double c = 0.0001;
double l = 0.01476;
double e = 15;
double ans = e / std::sqrt(std::pow(r, 2) + (std::pow(2 * PI*f*l - (1.0 / 2.0 * PI*f*c), 2)));
std::cout << "I = " << ans << "A" << std::endl;
}
I have read about truncation errors and tried to use 1.0/2.0 but doesn't seem to work either.

Answer 1

Truncation error refers to using only the first N terms of an infinite series to estimate a value. So the answer to your question is "No." You might find the following to be of some interest however....
#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
#include <iomanip>
using namespace std;
template<typename T>
T fsqr(T x) { return x * x; }
// Numerically stable and non-blowuppy way to calculate
// sqrt(a*a+b*b)
template<typename T>
T pythag(T a, T b) {
T absA = fabs(a);
T absB = fabs(b);
if (absA > absB)
{
return absA*sqrt(1.0 + fsqr(absB / absA));
} else if (0 == absB) {
return 0;
} else {
return absB*sqrt(1.0 + fsqr(absA / absB));
}
}
int main () {
double e, r, f, l, c, ans;
const double PI = 3.14159265358972384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170;
cout << "Insert value for resistance: " << endl;
cin >> r ;
cout << "Insert value for frequency: " << endl;
cin >> f;
cout << "Insert value for capacitance: " << endl;
cin >> c;
cout << "Insert value for inductance: " << endl;
cin >> l;
cout << "Insert value for electromotive force (voltage): " << endl;
cin >> e;
ans = e / pythag(r, 2*PI*f*l - (1/(2*PI*f*c)) );
cout << "I = " << ans << "A" << endl;
system("pause");
return 0;
}
Just kidding about all that PI.

Answer 2

The main problem is multiplying ½ by πfC instead of dividing, here:
(1.0 / 2.0 * PI*f*c)
This sort of problem is best avoided by using suitable named values (that also allows you to use faster and more precise x*x instead of std::pow(x,2)).
You can also remove some of that arithmetic by using the standard hypotenuse function instead of squaring and sqrting inline:
double ans = e / std::hypot(r, (2*PI*f*l - 0.5/PI/f/c));
#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>
int main()
{
static constexpr double PI = 4 * std::atan(1);
double r = 15; // ohm
double f = 200; // hertz
double c = 0.0001; // farad
double l = 0.01476; // henry
double e = 15; // volt
double current = e / std::hypot(r, (2 * PI*f*l - 0.5/PI/f/c));
std::cout << "I = " << current << "A" << std::endl;
}