Re: TI-85 and log(-4)
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Re: TI-85 and log(-4)
On Thu, 24 Jul 1997 18:56:52 GMT, David Socher wrote to Calc-TI:
>
> My algebra instructor had everyone punch the log of a negative number
> into their calculator to demonstrate that this could not be done.
What can and can't be done always depends on what you're trying to do it
with, as you saw...
> Everyone got an error message except me and my TI-85. I got something
> that looks like a complex number.
Bingo! This is what you got, assuming modes of RectC and Fix 4:
(Fake TI-85 Screen)
|--------------------|
|log -4 |
| (.6021,1.3644)| <--- This is the "rectangular" format for a
| | complex number. The first number is the
| | real part, and the second number is the
| | imaginary part, where i=sqrt(-1).
| | Anytime you see this, until you take
| | advanced algebra, analysis, pre-calculus,
| | or whatever they call it in your school,
|--------------------| your classmates are getting error messages.
> The manual doesn't to cover it.
See pages 11-2 through 11-4 regarding complex numbers, their format, and
the functions and commands for complex math.
Hope this helps!
Jason T. Selkowitz
*************************Jason T. Selkowitz***************************
* 16532 NE 36th Ct. LL202 * mailto:selkowtz@u.washington.edu *
* Redmond, WA 98052-6364 * http://weber.u.washington.edu/~selkowtz *
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