HP Forum Archive 17

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HP 33S formula solver Message #1 Posted by Sam Levy on 23 Apr 2007, 1:34 p.m. HP describes it as " Multiple-variable expression storage and evaluation". You may write an equation with multiple variables and SOLVE_ for the one of your choice. Each variable is then shown from storage or you may insert a value and it proceeds to a solution. This is in addition to expressions you can integrate or programmed solutions. I had not seen this feature before.

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #2 Posted by John on 23 Apr 2007, 1:37 p.m., in response to message #1 by Sam Levy Yes, this has been around for years. Welcome to the 21st century. Glad to have you here.

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #3 Posted by Vieira, L. C. (Brazil) on 23 Apr 2007, 2:45 p.m., in response to message #1 by Sam Levy Hi; the first one having this feature as a 'built in' was the HP28C, IIRC. The HP41 and the HP15C (thanks to Karl) can be programmed to do so, but they lack a built-in resource for this case. Others like the HP27S, the HP39G series, the whole HP4xG, the HP50G and some others also have it. Cheers. Luiz (Brazil)

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #4 Posted by bill platt on 23 Apr 2007, 4:21 p.m., in response to message #3 by Vieira, L. C. (Brazil) Didn't the 18c have this feature before the 28c?

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #5 Posted by Ron Ross on 23 Apr 2007, 4:28 p.m., in response to message #4 by bill platt Technically yes, but both were released so close to each other that Scientific, technical types often overlook the 18C.

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #6 Posted by Vieira, L. C. (Brazil) on 23 Apr 2007, 7:14 p.m., in response to message #5 by Ron Ross Oops! My bad... Good to know, thank you both. In fact, I have the original HP Journal issue with both HP18C and HP28C in the front cover. I actually missed that... Cheers. Luiz (Brazil)

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #7 Posted by Mike (Stgt) on 24 Apr 2007, 3:39 a.m., in response to message #3 by Vieira, L. C. (Brazil) IMHO the Solver was even portet to DOS -- on the HP200LX. You may even run it on Windows using the 200LX Connectivity Pack or emulators of the calculators you mentioned. <G> Ciao.....Mike

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #8 Posted by Norris on 23 Apr 2007, 4:44 p.m., in response to message #1 by Sam Levy If you like the Solver on the 33S, you might also like the "Multiple Equation Solver" (MES), an even more powerful feature found on HP 48, 49, and 50 series calculators. The MES allows you to group several equations together, and will automatically switch between them as necessary to solve for a given variable. Example: you enter and group three related equations for the properties of circles: C = PI*D A = PI*R^2 D = 2*R where A = area, C = circumference, D = diameter, and R = radius. Then you can enter a value for C, and then ask the MES to calculate the value of A. None of the equations above directly link C and A. But the MES will find A anyway: it will automatically use the first equation to calculate D, then the third equation to calculate R, then the second equation to calculate A. The MES, unlike the 33S Solver, also recognizes units. For example, if C is entered as '6_in', then the MES will calculate A as '2.8648_in^2' Edited: 23 Apr 2007, 4:45 p.m.

Re: HP 33S formula solver Message #9 Posted by Karl Schneider on 24 Apr 2007, 12:15 a.m., in response to message #1 by Sam Levy Quote: HP describes (the HP 33S formula solver) as "Multiple-variable expression storage and evaluation". You may write an equation with multiple variables and SOLVE_ for the one of your choice. Each variable is then shown from storage or you may insert a value and it proceeds to a solution. This is in addition to expressions you can integrate or programmed solutions. Hi, Sam -- I'm not sure if your post is a statement of personal revelation or an indirect request for more details, but I'll assume the latter... The predecessor of the HP-33S -- namely, the HP-32SII -- to my knowledge is the only other model with all of the capabilities you mention, to include solving and integration of both equations and programmed functions. RPL-based models allow solving and integration of algebraic expressions (and even multiple expressions in the case of the HP-48/49/50-series, as mentioned previously). Solving and integration of functions written as RPL programs cannot be done in a direct, straightforward manner, as far as I know. Many models going back to the HP-34C in 1979 allowed solving and integration of single-input, single-output programmed functions. A few Pioneer-series algebraic models from the late 1980's allowed solution of multi-variable equations, but not integration. Luiz (Hi!) stated in reply: Quote: ... The HP41 and the HP15C (thanks to Karl) can be programmed (for use with multiple-input functions), but they lack a built-in resource for this case. "thanks to Karl" might be just a tad generous, but I did present a technique for doing so in the following MoHPC article, which provides some detailed background about SOLVE and INTEG on the RPN-based models: http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=556 Happy reading! -- KS

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