Elliptic Integral - Complete Elliptic Integral of The First Kind

Elliptic Integrals are said to be 'complete' when the amplitude φ=π/2 and therefore x=1. The complete elliptic integral of the first kind K may thus be defined as

or more compactly in terms of the incomplete integral of the first kind as

It can be expressed as a power series

where Pn is the Legendre polynomial, which is equivalent to

where n!! denotes the double factorial. In terms of the Gauss hypergeometric function, the complete elliptic integral of the first kind can be expressed as

The complete elliptic integral of the first kind is sometimes called the quarter period. It can most efficiently be computed in terms of the arithmetic-geometric mean:

Read more about this topic:  Elliptic Integral

Famous quotes containing the words complete, integral and/or kind:

    The main reason why men and women make different aesthetic judgments is the fact that the latter, generally incapable of abstraction, only admire what meets their complete approval.
    Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)

    An island always pleases my imagination, even the smallest, as a small continent and integral portion of the globe. I have a fancy for building my hut on one. Even a bare, grassy isle, which I can see entirely over at a glance, has some undefined and mysterious charm for me.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)