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Appendix F
The Q(.) and erfc Functions

The Q function is defined as

Z 1  2
4 1 y
QðxÞ ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffi exp  dy ðF:1Þ
2p x 2

The function is used to evaluate the error probability of transmission systems that are
disturbed by additive Gaussian noise. Some textbooks use a different function for that
purpose, namely the complementary error function, abbreviated as erfc. This latter function
is defined as

Z 1
4 2
erfcðxÞ ¼ 1  erfðxÞ ¼ pffiffiffi expðy2 Þ dy ðF:2Þ
p x

From Equations (F.1) and (F.2) it follows that the Q function is related to the erfc function as
follows:
 
1 x
QðxÞ ¼ erfc pffiffiffi ðF:3Þ
2 2

The integral in these equations cannot be solved analytically. A simple and accurate
expression (error less than 0.27 %) is given by

" #
1 expðx2 =2Þ
QðxÞ  pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi pffiffiffiffiffiffi ðF:4Þ
ð1  0:339Þx þ 0:339 x2 þ 5:510 2p

Most modern mathematical software packages such as Matlab, Maple and Mathematica
comprise the erfc function as a standard function. Both functions are presented graphically in
Figures F.1 and F.2.

Introduction to Random Signals and Noise Wim C. van Etten

# 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd ISBN: 0-470-02411-9
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8

8
x

x
7

7
6

6
5
5

4
4
APPENDIX F: THE Q(.) AND ERFC FUNCTIONS

3
3

−10

−12
−11
−10

−12
−11

−6

−7

−8

−9
−6

−7

−8

−9

10

10

10

10

10

10

10
10

10

10

10

10

10

10

erfc(x)
Q(x)

Figure F.1

Figure F.2
5
5

x
x

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

0
0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6
−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

0
0

10

10

10

10

10

10

10
10

10

10

10

10

10

10

erfc(x)
Q(x)
244