LOG for HP 12C

[Gerson W. Barbosa]

(08-30-2017 04:22 AM)Gamo Wrote:  Just wondering about the compute functions like 1/x or y^x will take more time to calculate than just using Rv or X<>Y

Rv and x<>y are simple operations involving transfer of contents between internal registers. y^x alone requires a call to LN and another to e^x, both transcendental functions that take a lot a shift and add operations plus access to external tables in ROM. On slow calculators like the original HP-12C the difference in speed is quite noticeable, even without a stopwatch.
The choice of which solution to use depends on what amount of free memory you have. The five-step version would make sense if those were the last remaining free steps on you 12C.

Gerson.