python · skirpichev · May 21, 2025 · May 24, 2025 · May 24, 2025 · May 24, 2025
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 PEP: 791
-Title: imath --- module for integer-specific mathematics functions
+Title: intmath --- module for integer-specific mathematics functions
 Author: Sergey B Kirpichev <skirpichev@gmail.com>
 Sponsor: Victor Stinner <vstinner@python.org>
 Discussions-To: https://discuss.python.org/t/92548
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ Type: Standards Track
 Created: 12-May-2025
 Python-Version: 3.15
 Post-History: `12-Jul-2018 <https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-ideas@python.org/thread/YYJ5YJBJNCVXQWK5K3WSVNMPUSV56LOR/>`__,
-              02-Jun-2019,
               `09-May-2025 <https://discuss.python.org/t/91337>`__,
               `19-May-2025 <https://discuss.python.org/t/92548>`__,
 
@@ -35,10 +34,10 @@ when explicitly noted otherwise, all return values are floats."  This is no
 longer true:  *None* of the functions listed in the `Number-theoretic
 functions <https://docs.python.org/3.14/library/math.html#number-theoretic-functions>`_
 subsection of the documentation return a float, but the
-documentation doesn't say so.  In the documentation for the proposed ``imath`` module the sentence "All
+documentation doesn't say so.  In the documentation for the proposed ``intmath`` module the sentence "All
 return values are integers." would be accurate.  In a similar way we
 can simplify the description of the accepted arguments for functions in both the
-:external+py3.14:mod:`math` and the new module.
+new module and in :external+py3.14:mod:`math`.
 
 Apparently, the :external+py3.14:mod:`math` module can't serve as a catch-all place
 for mathematical functions since we also have the :external+py3.14:mod:`cmath` and
@@ -53,12 +52,55 @@ comparable with the :external+py3.14:mod:`cmath` (1340LOC), which is *not* a
 simple wrapper to the ``libm``, as most functions in the
 :external+py3.14:mod:`math` module.
 
+And this situation tends to get worse.  When the module split `was first
+proposed
+<https://mail.python.org/archives/list/python-ideas@python.org/thread/YYJ5YJBJNCVXQWK5K3WSVNMPUSV56LOR/>`_,
+there were only two integer-related functions:
+:external+py3.14:func:`~math.factorial` and :external+py3.14:func:`~math.gcd`.
+Now there are six and :external+py3.14:func:`~math.factorial` doesn't accept
+:class:`float`'s anymore.
+
+Some possible additions, among those proposed in the initial discussion thread
+and issue
+`python/cpython#81313 <https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/81313>`_ are:
+
+* ``ceil_div()`` --- for integer ceiling divide, see
+  `relevant discussion thread <https://discuss.python.org/t/91269>`_.
+* ``gcdext()`` --- to solve linear `Diophantine equation <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diophantine_equation>`_ in two variables (the
+  :external+py3.14:class:`int` implementation actually includes an extended
+  Euclidean algorithm)
+* ``isqrt_rem()`` --- to return both an integer square root and a remainder (which is non-zero only if
+  the integer isn't a perfect square)
+* ``ilog()`` --- integer logarithm, :external+py3.14:func:`math.log`
+  has special handling for integer arguments.  It's unique (with respect to other module
+  functions) and not documented so far, see issue
+  `python/cpython#120950 <https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/120950>`_.
+* ``fibonacci()`` --- `Fibonacci sequence <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_sequence>`_.
+
+
+Rationale
+=========
+
+Why not fix the :external+py3.14:mod:`math` module documentation instead?
+Sure, we can be much more vague in the module preamble (i.e. roughly say
+that "the :external+py3.14:mod:`math` module contains some mathematical
+functions"), we can accurately describe input/output for each function
+and it's behavior (e.g. whether the :external+py3.14:func:`~math.factorial`
+output is exact or not, like e.g. the `scipy.special.factorial <https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/generated/scipy.special.factorial.html#scipy.special.factorial>`_, per default).
+
+But the major issue is that the current module mixes different, almost non-interlaced
+application domains.  Adding more documentation will just highlight this and
+make the issue worse for end users (more text to read/skip).  And it will not
+fix issue with discoverability (to know in which module to find a function, and
+that it can be found at all, you need to look at all the functions in the
+module), nor with tab-completion.
+
 
 Specification
 =============
 
 The PEP proposes moving the following integer-related functions to a new
-module, called ``imath``:
+module, called ``intmath``:
 
 * :external+py3.14:func:`~math.comb`
 * :external+py3.14:func:`~math.factorial`
@@ -74,9 +116,21 @@ Module functions will accept integers and objects that implement the
 object to an integer number.  Suitable functions must be computed exactly,
 given sufficient time and memory.
 
-Possible extensions for the new module and its scope are discussed in the
-`Open Issues <Open Issues_>`_ section.  New functions are not part of this
-proposal.
+
+Possible Extensions
+===================
+
+New functions (like mentioned in `Motivation <Motivation_>`_ section) are not
+part of this proposal.
+
+Though, we should mention that, unless we can just provide bindings to some
+well supported mathematical library like the GMP, the module scope should be
+limited.  For example, no primality testing and factorization, as
+production-quality implementatons will require a decent mathematical background
+from contributors and belongs rather to specialized libraries.
+
+When proposed function already exists in the :pypi:`gmpy2`, we should prefer a
+compatible interface for the stdlib.
 
 
 Backwards Compatibility
@@ -107,60 +161,25 @@ Reference Implementation
 `python/cpython#133909 <https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/133909>`_
 
 
-Open Issues
-===========
+Rejected ideas
+==============
 
 Module name
 -----------
 
-The chosen name seems consistent with one existing domain-specific mathematical module:
-:external+py3.14:mod:`cmath` (for complex numbers).
-
-We note the `Imath
-<https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/Imath>`_ C++ library includes
-Python bindings with the same name.  There is also an :pypi:`imath` project on
-PyPI, but only with two releases, with the most recent one four years ago.  Its
-repository is no longer accessible.
-
-`Polling showed <https://discuss.python.org/t/91337/35>`_ ``intmath`` as another
-popular name.  The argument made was that the normal mathematical spelling of
-the imaginary unit is ``i``, which makes ``imath`` ambiguous.  It also has no conflict
-with any PyPI module.  On the other hand, ``intmath`` may be confused with
-interval math or numerical integration.
+`Polling showed <https://discuss.python.org/t/92548/67>`_ ``intmath`` as most
+popular candidate with ``imath`` as a second winner.
 
 Other proposed names include ``ntheory`` (like SymPy's submodule),
-``integermath`` and ``imaths``.
-
+``integermath``, ``zmath``, ``dmath`` and ``imaths``.
 
-Module scope and possible extensions
-------------------------------------
-
-Unless we can just provide bindings to some well supported mathematical library
-like the GMP, the module scope should be limited.  For example, no primality
-testing and factorization, as production-quality implementatons will require a
-decent mathematical background from contributors and belongs rather to
-specialized libraries.
-
-Some possible additions, among those proposed in the initial discussion thread
-(see also issue
-`python/cpython#81313 <https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/81313>`_):
-
-* ``ceil_div()`` --- for integer ceiling divide, see
-  `relevant discussion thread <https://discuss.python.org/t/91269>`_.
-* ``gcdext()`` --- to solve linear `Diophantine equation <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diophantine_equation>`_ in two variables (the
-  :external+py3.14:class:`int` implementation actually includes an extended
-  Euclidean algorithm)
-* ``isqrt_rem()`` --- to return both an integer square root and a remainder (which is non-zero only if
-  the integer isn't a perfect square)
-* ``ilog()`` --- integer logarithm, :external+py3.14:func:`math.log`
-  has special handling for integer arguments.  It's unique (with respect to other module
-  functions) and not documented so far, see issue
-  `python/cpython#120950 <https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/120950>`_.
-* ``fibonacci()`` --- `Fibonacci sequence <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_sequence>`_.
+As a variant, the new module can be added as a submodule of the
+:external+py3.14:mod:`math`: ``integer`` (most preferred), ``discrete``
+or ``ntheory``.
 
 
-Rejected ideas
-==============
+:external+py3.14:func:`~math.isqrt` renaming
+---------------------------------------------
 
 There was a brief discussion about exposing :external+py3.14:func:`math.isqrt`
 as ``imath.sqrt`` in the same way that :external+py3.14:func:`cmath.sqrt` is