I was bored and found a HP-27S

[Dave Britten]

(06-10-2014 03:52 PM)Katie Wasserman Wrote:  

(06-10-2014 11:18 AM)Don Shepherd Wrote:  In my opinion, one of HP's greatest achievements was the inclusion of programming constructs such as IF, sigma (loop), and L() and G() in the solver found in several calculator models, including the 27s. This made the solver more than just an equation solver; it is a real minimum programming language.

HP should have received some type of award for this solver, but we are all beneficiaries.

If I recall correctly the HP "step-by-step" publication called HP-27S/19B Technical Applications introduced L(), G() and other solver techniques. This was available when the 27S and 19B were first released. It showed how you could use the solver to compute coordinated transforms, solve linear equations, do complex variable arithmetic, find GCD and factor prime among other things. Pretty amazing for a "non-programmable" calculator.

Nice! I hadn't spotted that one yet while browsing the DVD index. I'll have to try some of it on my 200LX.

EDIT: Interesting reading, though most of the applications are a lot more complex than an imperative program, and not terribly intuitive for the end-user. They even managed to port my favorite prime factoring algorithm, though the implementation is a bit absurd. It's extremely cool that the solver is capable of all of that, but it's clearly not the optimal choice for a complex solution. Keep a 20S handy if you want an algebraic programmable!