To: J3                                                     J3/26-202
From: Malcolm Cohen
Subject: Interp F23/023 on simple functions and the IEEE modules
Date: 2026-October-16


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NUMBER: F23/023
TITLE: Are the functions in the IEEE modules simple?
KEYWORDS: IEEE, SIMPLE
DEFECT TYPE: Erratum
STATUS: J3 consideration in progress
REFERENCES: 24-007

QUESTION:


All the elemental functions in the IEEE modules are described as
merely elemental, not SIMPLE elemental.

That seems strange, as they do not access any out-of-scope variables.

The same applies for transformational functions like
IEEE_SELECTED_REAL_KIND, and inquiry functions like IEEE_SUPPORT_NAN.
(There is nothing about the definition of inquiry functions that would
cause them to be simple - and it is certainly conceivable that an
inquiry function might access non-local storage.)

Should these functions be described as simple?

ANSWER:

Yes, these should have been described as simple.
Edits are provided to correct this oversight.

EDITS to 24-007:

[472:5] 17.10 Summary of the procedures, p2, append to paragraph
   "All functions in IEEE_ARITHMETIC and IEEE_EXCEPTIONS are simple."

[472:7] Same subclause, p3,
        After  "E indicates that the procedure is"
        change "an elemental function"
        to     "a simple elemental function".
[472:9] Same paragraph,
        After  "I indicates that the procedure is"
        change "an inquiry function"
        to     "a simple inquiry function".
[472:11] Same paragraph,
         After  "T indicates that the procedure"
         change "in a transformational function"
         to     "is a simple transformational function".
{Note typo correction in that last edit.}

SUBMITTED BY: Malcolm Cohen

HISTORY: 26-nnn   m241  Submitted

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