HP 50g Graphing Calculator User Manual

Page 125

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Example of flag setting: general solutions vs. principal value

For example, the default value for system flag 01 is General solutions. What
this means is that, if an equation has multiple solutions, all the solutions will be
returned by the calculator, most likely in a list. By pressing the

@ @CHK@@ soft menu

key you can change system flag 01 to Principal value. This setting will force the
calculator to provide a single value known as the principal value of the solution.

To see this at work, first set system flag 01 (i.e., select Principal Value). Press

@@OK@@ twice to return to normal calculator display. We will try solving a
quadratic equation solution, say, t

2

+5t+6 = 0, with command QUAD.

Algebraic mode
Use the following keystroke sequence: ‚N~q (use the up and down
arrow keys, —˜ , to select command QUAD) , press

@@OK@@ .

To enter the equation as the first argument of function QUAD, use the following
keystrokes:

‚O~ „t Q2™+5*~ „t+6——

‚Е0`

‚н ~ „t`

The result is:

Now, change the setting of flag 1 to General solutions: H

@FLAGS@ @ @CHK@@ @@OK@@

@@OK@@ . And try the solution again: ——``. The solution now includes
two values:

RPN mode
First set system flag 01 (i.e., Principal Value). Press

@@OK@@ twice to return to

normal calculator display. Then, type the quadratic equation as follows:

‚O~ „t Q2™+5*~ „t+6——

‚Е0`

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