Considering 35s acquisition

[Thomas Klemm]

(01-29-2014 01:12 PM)Dieter Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 11:58 PM)Thomas Klemm Wrote:  complex numbers are supported but you can't calculate the square root

Of course you can. It's true that the function set for complex numbers is a bit limited, and so the \(\sqrt{x}\) key is not supported. But there is an easy workaround: Simply use 0,5 \(y^x\) instead.

Dieter

My point was that it's inconsistent:

• \(y^x\) works but neither \(\sqrt{x}\) nor \(x^2\)
• \(\sin(x)\), \(\cos(x)\) and \(\tan(x)\) work but not their inverses
• hyperbolic functions are missing as well
  

I just assume that this might annoy someone who is used to how the HP-15C, HP-42S or HP-48 handle complex numbers. The HP-35S makes me wonder whether I can use \(1/x\). Or maybe I have to use \(y^x\) for this as well? So I will consult the user guide and notice that \(y^x\) isn't listed though it is supported.

Sure I can come around this and write programs. But then I might just decide to use a tool that better fits my needs.

A good example for consistency is the use of left- and right-arrow in the HP-48. Let's assume you're in the STAT/DATA menu. There's \(\Sigma\)DAT which will just push '\(\Sigma\)DAT' on the stack. Wonder what left-arrow \(\Sigma\)DAT and right-arrow \(\Sigma\)DAT do? Correct: STO\(\Sigma\) and RCL\(\Sigma\) and that's exactly what you'd expect.

Cheers
Thomas