# erfinv

Inverse error function

## Syntax

``erfinv(X)``

## Description

example

````erfinv(X)` computes the inverse error function of `X`. If `X` is a vector or a matrix, `erfinv(X)` computes the inverse error function of each element of `X`.```

## Examples

### Inverse Error Function for Floating-Point and Symbolic Numbers

Depending on its arguments, `erfinv` can return floating-point or exact symbolic results.

Compute the inverse error function for these numbers. Because these numbers are not symbolic objects, you get floating-point results:

`A = [erfinv(1/2), erfinv(0.33), erfinv(-1/3)]`
```A = 0.4769 0.3013 -0.3046```

Compute the inverse error function for the same numbers converted to symbolic objects. For most symbolic (exact) numbers, `erfinv` returns unresolved symbolic calls:

`symA = [erfinv(sym(1)/2), erfinv(sym(0.33)), erfinv(sym(-1)/3)]`
```symA = [ erfinv(1/2), erfinv(33/100), -erfinv(1/3)]```

Use `vpa` to approximate symbolic results with the required number of digits:

```d = digits(10); vpa(symA) digits(d)```
```ans = [ 0.4769362762, 0.3013321461, -0.3045701942]```

### Inverse Error Function for Variables and Expressions

For most symbolic variables and expressions, `erfinv` returns unresolved symbolic calls.

Compute the inverse error function for `x` and ```sin(x) + x*exp(x)```. For most symbolic variables and expressions, `erfinv` returns unresolved symbolic calls:

```syms x f = sin(x) + x*exp(x); erfinv(x) erfinv(f)```
```ans = erfinv(x) ans = erfinv(sin(x) + x*exp(x))```

### Inverse Error Function for Vectors and Matrices

If the input argument is a vector or a matrix, `erfinv` returns the inverse error function for each element of that vector or matrix.

Compute the inverse error function for elements of matrix `M` and vector `V`:

```M = sym([0 1 + i; 1/3 1]); V = sym([-1; inf]); erfinv(M) erfinv(V)```
```ans = [ 0, NaN] [ erfinv(1/3), Inf] ans = -Inf NaN```

### Special Values of Inverse Complementary Error Function

`erfinv` returns special values for particular parameters.

Compute the inverse error function for x = –1, x = 0, and x = 1. The inverse error function has special values for these parameters:

`[erfinv(-1), erfinv(0), erfinv(1)]`
```ans = -Inf 0 Inf```

### Handling Expressions That Contain Inverse Complementary Error Function

Many functions, such as `diff` and `int`, can handle expressions containing `erfinv`.

Compute the first and second derivatives of the inverse error function:

```syms x diff(erfinv(x), x) diff(erfinv(x), x, 2)```
```ans = (pi^(1/2)*exp(erfinv(x)^2))/2 ans = (pi*exp(2*erfinv(x)^2)*erfinv(x))/2```

Compute the integral of the inverse error function:

`int(erfinv(x), x)`
```ans = -exp(-erfinv(x)^2)/pi^(1/2)```

### Plot Inverse Error Function

Plot the inverse error function on the interval from -1 to 1.

```syms x fplot(erfinv(x),[-1,1]) grid on```

## Input Arguments

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Input, specified as a symbolic number, variable, expression, or function, or as a vector or matrix of symbolic numbers, variables, expressions, or functions.

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### Inverse Error Function

The inverse error function is defined as erf -1(x), such that erf(erf -1(x)) = erf -1(erf(x)) = x. Here

`$erf\left(x\right)=\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi }}\underset{0}{\overset{x}{\int }}{e}^{-{t}^{2}}dt$`

is the error function.

## Tips

• Calling `erfinv` for a number that is not a symbolic object invokes the MATLAB® `erfinv` function. This function accepts real arguments only. If you want to compute the inverse error function for a complex number, use `sym` to convert that number to a symbolic object, and then call `erfinv` for that symbolic object.

• If x < –1 or x > 1, or if x is complex, then `erfinv(x)` returns `NaN`.

## Algorithms

The toolbox can simplify expressions that contain error functions and their inverses. For real values `x`, the toolbox applies these simplification rules:

• ```erfinv(erf(x)) = erfinv(1 - erfc(x)) = erfcinv(1 - erf(x)) = erfcinv(erfc(x)) = x```

• ```erfinv(-erf(x)) = erfinv(erfc(x) - 1) = erfcinv(1 + erf(x)) = erfcinv(2 - erfc(x)) = -x```

For any value `x`, the toolbox applies these simplification rules:

• `erfcinv(x) = erfinv(1 - x)`

• `erfinv(-x) = -erfinv(x)`

• `erfcinv(2 - x) = -erfcinv(x)`

• `erf(erfinv(x)) = erfc(erfcinv(x)) = x`

• `erf(erfcinv(x)) = erfc(erfinv(x)) = 1 - x`

## References

[1] Gautschi, W. “Error Function and Fresnel Integrals.” Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas, Graphs, and Mathematical Tables. (M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, eds.). New York: Dover, 1972.