Numerical calculation of incomplete gamma functions by the trapezoidal rule

Summary The trapezoidal rule is applied to the numerical calculation of a known integral representation of the complementary incomplete gamma function (a,x) in the regiona<–1 andx>0. Since this application of the rule is not standard, a careful investigation of the remainder terms using the Euler-Maclaurin formula is carried out. The outcome is a simple numerical procedure for obtaining values of incomplete gamma functions with surprising accuracy in the stated region.This work has been supported by the Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche