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HP 32SII User Manual

Page 323

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Solving

C–9

File name 32sii-Manual-E-0424
Printed Date : 2003/4/24 Size : 17.7 x 25.2 cm

The search halts because SOLVE is working on a horizontal

asymptote—an area where f(x) is essentially constant for a wide range of
x (see figure b, below). The ending value of f(x) is the value of the
potential asymptote.

The search is concentrated in a local "flat" region of the function (see

figure c, below). The ending value of f(x) is the value of the function in
this region.

f (x)

x

a

f (x)

x

b

f (x)

x

c

Case Where No Root Is Found

The SOLVE operation returns a math error if an estimate produces an
operation that is not allowed — for example, division by zero, a square root
of a negative number, or a logarithm of zero. Keep in mind that SOLVE can
generate estimates over a wide range. You can sometimes avoid math errors
by using good guesses. If a math error occurs, press

K

unknown variable

(or

{

‰

variable) to see the value that produced the error.