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 love between man and woman is the greatest and most complete passion the world will ever see, because it is dual, because it is of two opposing kinds.
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    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)

    The kind of power mothers have is enormous. Take the skyline of Istanbul—enormous breasts, pathetic little willies, a final revenge on Islam. I was so scared I had to crouch in the bottom of the boat when I saw it.
    Angela Carter (1940–1992)