[Contents] [Previous] [Next] [Index]

Math

A built-in object that has properties and methods for mathematical constants and functions. For example, the Math object's PI property has the value of pi.

Core object.

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Created by

The Math object is a top-level, predefined JavaScript object. You can automatically access it without using a constructor or calling a method.

Description

All properties and methods of Math are static. You refer to the constant PI as Math.PI and you call the sine function as Math.sin(x), where x is the method's argument. Constants are defined with the full precision of real numbers in JavaScript.

It is often convenient to use the with statement when a section of code uses several Math constants and methods, so you don't have to type "Math" repeatedly. For example,

with (Math) {
   a = PI * r*r
   y = r*sin(theta)
   x = r*cos(theta)
}

Property Summary

E
Euler's constant and the base of natural logarithms, approximately 2.718.

LN10
Natural logarithm of 10, approximately 2.302.

LN2
Natural logarithm of 2, approximately 0.693.

LOG10E
Base 10 logarithm of E (approximately 0.434).

LOG2E
Base 2 logarithm of E (approximately 1.442).

PI
Ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, approximately 3.14159.

SQRT1_2
Square root of 1/2; equivalently, 1 over the square root of 2, approximately 0.707.

SQRT2
Square root of 2, approximately 1.414.

Method Summary

abs
Returns the absolute value of a number.

acos
Returns the arccosine (in radians) of a number.

asin
Returns the arcsine (in radians) of a number.

atan
Returns the arctangent (in radians) of a number.

atan2
Returns the arctangent of the quotient of its arguments.

ceil
Returns the smallest integer greater than or equal to a number.

cos
Returns the cosine of a number.

exp
Returns Enumber, where number is the argument, and E is Euler's constant, the base of the natural logarithms.

floor
Returns the largest integer less than or equal to a number.

log
Returns the natural logarithm (base E) of a number.

max
Returns the greater of two numbers.

min
Returns the lesser of two numbers.

pow
Returns base to the exponent power, that is, baseexponent.

random
Returns a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1.

round
Returns the value of a number rounded to the nearest integer.

sin
Returns the sine of a number.

sqrt
Returns the square root of a number.

tan
Returns the tangent of a number.

Properties

E

Euler's constant and the base of natural logarithms, approximately 2.718.

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns Euler's constant:

function getEuler() {
   return Math.E
}

Description

Because E is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.E, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

LN10

The natural logarithm of 10, approximately 2.302.

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns the natural log of 10:

function getNatLog10() {
   return Math.LN10
}

Description

Because LN10 is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.LN10, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

LN2

The natural logarithm of 2, approximately 0.693.

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns the natural log of 2:

function getNatLog2() {
   return Math.LN2
}

Description

Because LN2 is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.LN2, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

LOG10E

The base 10 logarithm of E (approximately 0.434).

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns the base 10 logarithm of E:

function getLog10e() {
   return Math.LOG10E
}

Description

Because LOG10E is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.LOG10E, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

LOG2E

The base 2 logarithm of E (approximately 1.442).

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns the base 2 logarithm of E:

function getLog2e() {
   return Math.LOG2E
}

Description

Because LOG2E is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.LOG2E, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

PI

The ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, approximately 3.14159.

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns the value of pi:

function getPi() {
   return Math.PI
}

Description

Because PI is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.PI, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

SQRT1_2

The square root of 1/2; equivalently, 1 over the square root of 2, approximately 0.707.

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns 1 over the square root of 2:

function getRoot1_2() {
   return Math.SQRT1_2
}

Description

Because SQRT1_2 is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.SQRT1_2, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

SQRT2

The square root of 2, approximately 1.414.

Property of

Math

Static, Read-only

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Examples

The following function returns the square root of 2:

function getRoot2() {
   return Math.SQRT2
}

Description

Because SQRT2 is a static property of Math, you always use it as Math.SQRT2, rather than as a property of a Math object you created.

Methods

abs

Returns the absolute value of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

abs(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Examples

The following function returns the absolute value of the variable x:

function getAbs(x) {
   return Math.abs(x)
}

Description

Because abs is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.abs(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

acos

Returns the arccosine (in radians) of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

acos(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

The acos method returns a numeric value between 0 and pi radians. If the value of number is outside this range, it returns 0.

Because acos is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.acos(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the arccosine of the variable x:

function getAcos(x) {
   return Math.acos(x)
}
If you pass -1 to getAcos, it returns 3.141592653589793; if you pass 2, it returns 0 because 2 is out of range.

See also

Math.asin, Math.atan, Math.atan2, Math.cos, Math.sin, Math.tan

asin

Returns the arcsine (in radians) of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

asin(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

The asin method returns a numeric value between -pi/2 and pi/2 radians. If the value of number is outside this range, it returns 0.

Because asin is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.asin(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the arcsine of the variable x:

function getAsin(x) {
   return Math.asin(x)
}
If you pass getAsin the value 1, it returns 1.570796326794897 (pi/2); if you pass it the value 2, it returns 0 because 2 is out of range.

See also

Math.acos, Math.atan, Math.atan2, Math.cos, Math.sin, Math.tan

atan

Returns the arctangent (in radians) of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

atan(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

The atan method returns a numeric value between -pi/2 and pi/2 radians.

Because atan is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.atan(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the arctangent of the variable x:

function getAtan(x) {
   return Math.atan(x)
}
If you pass getAtan the value 1, it returns 0.7853981633974483; if you pass it the value .5, it returns 0.4636476090008061.

See also

Math.acos, Math.asin, Math.atan2, Math.cos, Math.sin, Math.tan

atan2

Returns the arctangent of the quotient of its arguments.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

atan2(y, x)

Parameters

y, x
Number

Description

The atan2 method returns a numeric value between -pi and pi representing the angle theta of an (x,y) point. This is the counterclockwise angle, measured in radians, between the positive X axis, and the point (x,y). Note that the arguments to this function pass the y-coordinate first and the x-coordinate second.

atan2 is passed separate x and y arguments, and atan is passed the ratio of those two arguments.

Because atan2 is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.atan2(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the angle of the polar coordinate:

function getAtan2(x,y) {
   return Math.atan2(x,y)
}
If you pass getAtan2 the values (90,15), it returns 1.4056476493802699; if you pass it the values (15,90), it returns 0.16514867741462683.

See also

Math.acos, Math.asin, Math.atan, Math.cos, Math.sin, Math.tan

ceil

Returns the smallest integer greater than or equal to a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

ceil(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

Because ceil is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.ceil(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the ceil value of the variable x:

function getCeil(x) {
   return Math.ceil(x)
}
If you pass 45.95 to getCeil, it returns 46; if you pass -45.95, it returns -45.

See also

Math.floor

cos

Returns the cosine of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

cos(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

The cos method returns a numeric value between -1 and 1, which represents the cosine of the angle.

Because cos is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.cos(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the cosine of the variable x:

function getCos(x) {
   return Math.cos(x)
}
If x equals Math.PI/2, getCos returns 6.123031769111886e-017; if x equals Math.PI, getCos returns -1.

See also

Math.acos, Math.asin, Math.atan, Math.atan2, Math.sin, Math.tan

exp

Returns Ex, where x is the argument, and E is Euler's constant, the base of the natural logarithms.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

exp(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

Because exp is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.exp(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the exponential value of the variable x:

function getExp(x) {
   return Math.exp(x)
}
If you pass getExp the value 1, it returns 2.718281828459045.

See also

Math.E, Math.log, Math.pow

floor

Returns the largest integer less than or equal to a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

floor(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

Because floor is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.floor(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the floor value of the variable x:

function getFloor(x) {
   return Math.floor(x)
}
If you pass 45.95 to getFloor, it returns 45; if you pass -45.95, it returns -46.

See also

Math.ceil

log

Returns the natural logarithm (base E) of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

log(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

If the value of number is outside the suggested range, the return value is always -1.797693134862316e+308.

Because log is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.log(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the natural log of the variable x:

function getLog(x) {
   return Math.log(x)
}
If you pass getLog the value 10, it returns 2.302585092994046; if you pass it the value 0, it returns -1.797693134862316e+308 because 0 is out of range.

See also

Math.exp, Math.pow

max

Returns the larger of two numbers.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

max(x,y)

Parameters

x, y
Numbers.

Description

Because max is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.max(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function evaluates the variables x and y:

function getMax(x,y) {
   return Math.max(x,y)
}
If you pass getMax the values 10 and 20, it returns 20; if you pass it the values -10 and -20, it returns -10.

See also

Math.min

min

Returns the smaller of two numbers.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

min(x,y)

Parameters

x, y
Numbers.

Description

Because min is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.min(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function evaluates the variables x and y:

function getMin(x,y) {
   return Math.min(x,y)
}
If you pass getMin the values 10 and 20, it returns 10; if you pass it the values -10 and -20, it returns -20.

See also

Math.max

pow

Returns base to the exponent power, that is, baseexponent.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

pow(x,y)

Parameters

base
The base number

exponent
The exponent to which to raise base

Description

Because pow is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.pow(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

function raisePower(x,y) {
   return Math.pow(x,y)
}
If x is 7 and y is 2, raisePower returns 49 (7 to the power of 2).

See also

Math.exp, Math.log

random

Returns a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1. The random number generator is seeded from the current time, as in Java.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0: Unix only
Navigator 3.0, LiveWire 1.0: all platforms

Syntax

random()

Parameters

None.

Description

Because random is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.random(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

//Returns a random number between 0 and 1
function getRandom() {
   return Math.random()
}

round

Returns the value of a number rounded to the nearest integer.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

round(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

If the fractional portion of number is .5 or greater, the argument is rounded to the next highest integer. If the fractional portion of number is less than .5, the argument is rounded to the next lowest integer.

Because round is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.round(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

//Displays the value 20
document.write("The rounded value is " + Math.round(20.49))
//Displays the value 21
document.write("<P>The rounded value is " + Math.round(20.5))
//Displays the value -20
document.write("<P>The rounded value is " + Math.round(-20.5))
//Displays the value -21
document.write("<P>The rounded value is " + Math.round(-20.51))
In server-side JavaScript, you can display the same output by calling the write function instead of using document.write.

sin

Returns the sine of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

sin(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

The sin method returns a numeric value between -1 and 1, which represents the sine of the argument.

Because sin is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.sin(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the sine of the variable x:

function getSine(x) {
   return Math.sin(x)
}
If you pass getSine the value Math.PI/2, it returns 1.

See also

Math.acos, Math.asin, Math.atan, Math.atan2, Math.cos, Math.tan

sqrt

Returns the square root of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

sqrt(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

If the value of number is outside the required range, sqrt returns 0.

Because sqrt is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.sqrt(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the square root of the variable x:

function getRoot(x) {
   return Math.sqrt(x)
}
If you pass getRoot the value 9, it returns 3; if you pass it the value 2, it returns 1.414213562373095.

tan

Returns the tangent of a number.

Method of

Math

Static

Implemented in

Navigator 2.0, LiveWire 1.0

Syntax

tan(x)

Parameters

x
A number

Description

The tan method returns a numeric value that represents the tangent of the angle.

Because tan is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.tan(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created.

Examples

The following function returns the tangent of the variable x:

function getTan(x) {
   return Math.tan(x)
}
If you pass Math.PI/4 to getTan, it returns 0.9999999999999999.

See also

Math.acos, Math.asin, Math.atan, Math.atan2, Math.cos, Math.sin



[Contents] [Previous] [Next] [Index]

Last Updated: 10/31/97 16:00:33


Copyright ?1997 Netscape Communications Corporation