HP 48g Graphing Calculator User Manual
Page 438
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Q: What does an h m a number mean (for example,
A: Exponent of 10 (for example, 2.51 x 10“^^), See “Keying In
Numbers” on page 2-1 and “Setting the Display Mode” on page 4-2.
Q:
Why do trig functions give me unexpected results?
A: The angle mode may be wrong for your problem. Check the angle
mode annunciator: RflD means radians, GF;flD means grads, and none
means degrees. Press fi^fRAD) or use the f r R f M O D E S ) screen to
change the angle mode.
Q: When I take the sine of
tt
in Degrees mode, why do I get ' S I H <
i t
) '
instead of a number?
A: The calculator is in Symbolic Result mode; ' S I H i i r ) ’ is the
symbolic answer. Press (4^(->NUM) to convert ' ; 5 I H <
i t
) ' to its
numeric equivalent of .0548 ... up to 11 decimal places (sin 3.14°).
You can also press (
modes
) M I : 3 C S Y M
s
to change to Numeric
Results mode and prevent symbolic evaluation.
Q: When I evaluate ' S I N <
t t
) ' I don’t get zero. Why not?
A: The HP 48, like all calculators, can only compute using a finite
number of decimal places. Because
tt
contains an infinite number of
decimal places, any results involving
tt
must necessarily be rounded.
Sometimes, as in this case, the rounded number differs from the
theoretical answer by 1 0 " ( a millionth of a millionth) or so.
Q: When I differentiate or integrate I get an U n d e f i n e d
error
message. What is wrong?
A: Symbolic solution mode is not set and the calculator is attempting
(unsucessfully) to find a numerical answer using only symbolic
variables. Press (MODES) h I S C S V M B , or make sure that the
F i E S U L T S " field in the Integrate or Differentiate input forms shows
S y m b o l i c , and try again.
Q: When I compute (—l)s I get a complex number instead of 1. What
IS wrong?
A: The HP 48 is designed to return the complex principal solution for
any fractional exponent. To get the real number root, use the
operator (the fW) key or XROOT command) instead.
Q:
What does “object” mean?
A: “Object” is the general term for all elements of data the HP 48
works with. Numbers, expressions, arrays, programs, and so on, are all
types of objects.
A-2 Support, Batteries, and Service