AccuracyGoal
is an option for various numerical operations which specifies how many effective digits of accuracy should be sought in the final result.
Details

- AccuracyGoal is an option for such functions as NIntegrate, NDSolve, and FindRoot.
- AccuracyGoal->Automatic normally yields an accuracy goal equal to half the setting for WorkingPrecision.
- AccuracyGoal->Infinity specifies that accuracy should not be used as the criterion for terminating the numerical procedure. PrecisionGoal is typically used in this case.
- Even though you may specify AccuracyGoal->n, the results you get may sometimes have much less than n‐digit accuracy.
- In most cases, you must set WorkingPrecision to be at least as large as AccuracyGoal.
- AccuracyGoal effectively specifies the absolute error allowed in a numerical procedure.
- With AccuracyGoal->a and PrecisionGoal->p, the Wolfram Language attempts to make the numerical error in a result of size
be less than
.
Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (2)
Approximate a numerical integral to at least 8 digits of accuracy:
Use precision (relative error) as the basis for error control in solving an ODE:
In[2]:= |
Without specifying the AccuracyGoal, the relative error is much larger:
Scope (2)
See Also
PrecisionGoal WorkingPrecision Accuracy SetAccuracy Precision
Tutorials
Related Guides
Introduced in 1988
(1.0)
| Updated in 2003 (5.0)