HP 28S REF and RREF

[J-F Garnier]

(04-09-2020 12:56 AM)edryer Wrote:  Very surprised there is no way on the HP to perform Matrix (Reduced) Row Echelon Form... i.e. no REF or RREF functions, was it not envisaged as useful for professionals? RREF would be a one step linear system solver!

Almost all later graphing calculators from most manufacturers had this functionality (as I assume does the HP 48SX and beyond).

To me a curious omission, as the HP 28S otherwise has great matrix/vector functionality (not as good as the 48's/50's with eigen stuff but still pretty good).

The 28S was released in 1988, and the RREF command (and many other) was introduced only in the 48GX in 1993.
Also the HP-28S has 128kB of ROM, whereas the 48GX has 512 kB.
Not surprising that the 48G series is much more powerful.
Still I like the 28S a lot (except the battery door of course).

J-F