Abstract: In an embodiment, an example computer-implemented method for configuring a hardware accelerator to perform a non-linear function involves: determining a plurality of intervals that partition an input domain of the non-linear function; determining a plurality of subinterval configurations corresponding to different numbers of subintervals for partitioning that interval; generating an error set comprising an error for using a polynomial function to approximate the non-linear function within one or more corresponding subintervals specified by the subinterval configuration; using the error set and resource constraints, selecting one of the subinterval configurations for each of the intervals to generate a configuration set that minimizes a worst-case error across the intervals; selecting one of the subinterval configurations for each of the intervals to generate an improved configuration set that minimizes a cumulative error across the intervals without exceeding the worst-case error; and configuring the hardware