Post Reply 
Multiple (possibly complex) roots?
04-21-2014, 01:20 AM
Post: #1
Multiple (possibly complex) roots?
Hi all!

Thanks to Jonathan Cameron, I've got my working WP34S (with crystal!) now. It's amazing and I was going through the manuals (starting with the beginner's guide) since it's been many years since I did a lot with an HP calculator. Some great surprises, like the fraction modes!

Question, though, about complex math and/or roots in general. The nth root of a number has n solutions. If you plot them on a complex graph, they'll all fall in a circle and be equidistant (same angles). Simplest is square root of 1. Answers are 1 and -1. SRT -1 = i and -i. Cube root of 1 = 1, -0.866 + 0.5i, and -0.866 - 0.5i.

On the HP/WP, which root does it normally pick? I assume to get all of them, I'd have to use SLV with different starting points. I guess as wonderful as the calc is, it's not Matlab or Mathematica Smile
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Messages In This Thread
Multiple (possibly complex) roots? - unfrostedpoptart - 04-21-2014 01:20 AM



User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)