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Why do even the simplest calculators feature a square root key?
05-06-2018, 08:10 PM
Post: #14
RE: Why do even the simplest calculators feature a square root key?
(05-05-2018 06:39 AM)Dieter Wrote:  I have never seen anyone calculating a square root on such a calculator, so I wonder why this function exists at all.

First of all thank you very much for your replies so far.

Yes, it is obvious that there are useful applications for a √x key on a calculator. But for me the essential question is this:

Why is it the √ function and not another one that might be even more useful? For instance, if I were to design a simple calculator and I had to choose one single additional function, it would be the power function yx. This is far more useful and it can even be used for calculating roots. Or, looking at the typical user of such calculators, why not add a percent function instead of a rarely used √x ? Is there a technical reason? I don't think that the typical user of such a calculator has to deal with the Pythagorean theorem very often. ;-)

Dieter
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RE: Why do even the simplest calculators feature a square root key? - Dieter - 05-06-2018 08:10 PM



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