Difference between revisions of "Ceiling function"

m (Ceiling moved to Ceiling function: function added)
m (Examples)
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The least integer function, or the ceiling function, finds the least integer greater than or equal to its argument.  The ceiling of <math>x</math> is often denoted by <math>\lceil x \rceil</math>.
+
The '''ceiling function,''' also known as the "least integer function," gives the least integer greater than or equal to its argument.  The ceiling of <math>x</math> is usually denoted by <math>\lceil x \rceil</math>.  The action of the function is also described by the phrase "rounding up."  On the negative [[real number]]s, this corresponds to the action "dropping everything after the [[decimal]] point".
  
For an example:
+
==Examples==
  
<math>\lceil 4.5 \rceil</math> = 5
+
*<math>\lceil 3.14 \rceil = 4</math>
  
<math>\lceil -e \rceil</math> = -2
+
*<math>\lceil 5 \rceil = 5</math>
 +
 
 +
*<math>\lceil -3.2\rceil = -3 </math>
 +
 
 +
*<math>\lceil 100.2 \rceil = 101</math>
 +
 
 +
==Relation to the Floor Function==
 +
For an [[integer]], the ceiling function is equal to the floor function. For any other number, the ceiling function is the floor function plus [[one]].
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
*[[Greatest integer function]]
+
*[[Floor function]]
 +
*[[Fractional part]]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Functions]]

Latest revision as of 18:26, 8 December 2016

The ceiling function, also known as the "least integer function," gives the least integer greater than or equal to its argument. The ceiling of $x$ is usually denoted by $\lceil x \rceil$. The action of the function is also described by the phrase "rounding up." On the negative real numbers, this corresponds to the action "dropping everything after the decimal point".

Examples

  • $\lceil 3.14 \rceil = 4$
  • $\lceil 5 \rceil = 5$
  • $\lceil -3.2\rceil = -3$
  • $\lceil 100.2 \rceil = 101$

Relation to the Floor Function

For an integer, the ceiling function is equal to the floor function. For any other number, the ceiling function is the floor function plus one.

See Also