Complex numbers notation

hlm...@hotmail.com

unread,

Feb 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/23/98

to

Is there any posibility to display 3+2i instead of (3,2) or (3;2) when I work
with complex numbers.

-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading

John H Meyers

unread,

Feb 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/23/98

to

In article <6cs6hs$u76$1...@nnrp2.dejanews.com>,
hlm...@hotmail.com (Lionel Modi) writes:

> Is there any posibility to display 3+2i instead of (3,2) or (3;2)
> when I work with complex numbers.

\<< -27 SF DUP TYPE 1 ==
{ RCLF SWAP -2 CF -3 CF C\->R i * + SWAP STOF } IFT \>>

If you input (3 2) and then execute the above program,
the result is '3+2*i' -- this object is actually an algebraic
expression, rather than a complex number, but it represents
the same actual value, and \->NUM will transform it back
to the (complex) numeric value (3,2)

Flag -27 governs whether the algebraic expression '1+2*i'
is displayed as '1+2*i' or as (1,2); however, the expression
'2+i' is displayed as '2+i' regardless of this flag setting;
is this a feature or a bug?

-----------------------------------------------------------
With best wishes from: John H Meyers <jhme...@mum.edu>

Jonathan M. Katz

unread,

Feb 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/23/98

to

John H Meyers wrote:
>
> In article <6cs6hs$u76$1...@nnrp2.dejanews.com>,
> hlm...@hotmail.com (Lionel Modi) writes:
>
> > Is there any posibility to display 3+2i instead of (3,2) or (3;2)
> > when I work with complex numbers.
>
> \<< -27 SF DUP TYPE 1 ==
> { RCLF SWAP -2 CF -3 CF C\->R i * + SWAP STOF } IFT \>>
>
> If you input (3 2) and then execute the above program,
> the result is '3+2*i' -- this object is actually an algebraic
> expression, rather than a complex number, but it represents
> the same actual value, and \->NUM will transform it back
> to the (complex) numeric value (3,2)
>
> Flag -27 governs whether the algebraic expression '1+2*i'
> is displayed as '1+2*i' or as (1,2); however, the expression
> '2+i' is displayed as '2+i' regardless of this flag setting;
> is this a feature or a bug?

Okay, (some of you) get ready to laugh, but I'm serious, so don't
die or fall off your chair like fools, but...

I'm an electrical engineering student, and we like to save "I" and
"i" for (that's right) current in our equations. Instead of using i
for sqrt(-1), most of us use "j". I know, "j" can certainly be used
for things of its own instead of numerical constants. Anyway, I would
like to see HP make use of one of the few reamining "not used" system
flags to allow users to (here's the funny part) switch between using
"i" or "j" for sqrt(-1) in the next (?) "super" calc model ("HP58").
Anybody have an opinion about this?

as you were,

katz
--
In order to e-mail me a reply to this message, you will have
to edit the address shown in the header. You know what to do.

CASASSOVICI Alexander

unread,

Feb 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/23/98

to

Another possibility is to use Java....

--
alex...@magic.fr
"Sacré Français"
John H Meyers a écrit dans le message <6csh0q$i16$1...@news.iastate.edu>...

>In article <6cs6hs$u76$1...@nnrp2.dejanews.com>,
>hlm...@hotmail.com (Lionel Modi) writes:
>
>> Is there any posibility to display 3+2i instead of (3,2) or (3;2)
>> when I work with complex numbers.
>
> \<< -27 SF DUP TYPE 1 ==
> { RCLF SWAP -2 CF -3 CF C\->R i * + SWAP STOF } IFT \>>
>
> If you input (3 2) and then execute the above program,
> the result is '3+2*i' -- this object is actually an algebraic
> expression, rather than a complex number, but it represents
> the same actual value, and \->NUM will transform it back
> to the (complex) numeric value (3,2)
>
> Flag -27 governs whether the algebraic expression '1+2*i'
> is displayed as '1+2*i' or as (1,2); however, the expression
> '2+i' is displayed as '2+i' regardless of this flag setting;
> is this a feature or a bug?
>

Stephan Kämper

unread,

Feb 24, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/24/98

to Jonathan M. Katz

Jonathan M. Katz wrote:
> Okay, (some of you) get ready to laugh, but I'm serious, so don't
> die or fall off your chair like fools, but...
>
> I'm an electrical engineering student, and we like to save "I" and
> "i" for (that's right) current in our equations. Instead of using i
> for sqrt(-1), most of us use "j". I know, "j" can certainly be used
> for things of its own instead of numerical constants. Anyway, I would
> like to see HP make use of one of the few reamining "not used" system
> flags to allow users to (here's the funny part) switch between using
> "i" or "j" for sqrt(-1) in the next (?) "super" calc model ("HP58").
> Anybody have an opinion about this?

Hi Johnathan,

at least I'n not going to laugh.
It MAY (or may not - I didn't test) work to store i or (0,1) in a
variable named 'j'. However, this has obviously nothing to do with any
setting of user (or system) flags...

Well to be able to switch between the two 'complex modes' is another
good idea to tell them at Austarila! A fixed setting of 'j' instead of
'i' will (surely not probably) upset physicists (at leats one of them:
me) and/or math people (is it 'mathematicians' BTW?)...

Stephan

Carles A. Vallve

unread,

Feb 25, 1998, 3:00:00 AM2/25/98

to

Hi !

>I'm an electrical engineering student, and we like to save "I" and
>"i" for (that's right) current in our equations. Instead of using i
>for sqrt(-1), most of us use "j". I know, "j" can certainly be used
>for things of its own instead of numerical constants. Anyway, I would
>like to see HP make use of one of the few reamining "not used" system
>flags to allow users to (here's the funny part) switch between using
>"i" or "j" for sqrt(-1) in the next (?) "super" calc model ("HP58").
>Anybody have an opinion about this?

I'm electrical engineering student too. And some times I use 'j'.
Fore use it I put a variable 'j' with contain 'i', hide in my home
directori. If you do this when you use j the HP use the i.

Bye.

Si em contestes per email treu el CARLES de l'adreça de email.
If you reply me quit CARLES from the email adress.
Si me contestas por email saca el CARLES de la direccion de email.

/
/ /\ Carles Albert Vallvè Guionnet
\ / Tarragona, Catalunya
| \/
| email: cv...@CARLEStinet.fut.es
\ | cav...@CARLESalumne.etse.urv.es
/ \| URL: http://www.fut.es/~mpga
/ ICQ: 7734313
\ /
\/

Simon Hosie

unread,

Mar 11, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/11/98

to

Lionel Modi:

> Is there any posibility to display 3+2i instead of (3,2) or (3;2)
> when I work with complex numbers.

John H Meyers:

> \<< -27 SF DUP TYPE 1 ==
> { RCLF SWAP -2 CF -3 CF C\->R i * + SWAP STOF } IFT \>>

CASASSOVICI Alexander:

> Another possibility is to use Java....

Uhh... [pokes at calculator] What does Java do, in this respect, that the
ROM thingumy doesn't? I haven't got around to reading the docs, yet.

What _I_ really want is a leading 0 for numbers between 1 and -1, and an
engineering notation that uses symbols rather than exponents (like my Casio
[oops, can I use the C word here?]).

--
# Gumboot, at an ISP named Clear.Net, in New Zealand.
#
# Please try to quote only the text you need to show the context of your
# response.

John H Meyers

unread,

Mar 12, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/12/98

to

In article <Epn7...@no.circulars>,

Simon Hosie (sans a real email address) writes:

> What _I_ really want is a leading 0 for numbers between 1 and -1

Try 11 FIX, etc. (the default STD display mode eliminates
all non-significant leading and trailing zeros).

> and an engineering notation that uses symbols rather than exponents

> (like my Casio)

Use unit prefixes, e.g. .00045_k? = .45_? = 450_m?

This simulates the kind of Casio which displays these prefix symbols
as an alternative to a numeric exponent, e.g. "k" instead of +03, etc.

The "?" can be any known unit ( 1_? is itself a "generic" unit); the
following program will display a "custom menu" for converting between
some of these prefixes, where \Gm is Greek mu (alpha right-shift n):

\<< { { Mega 1_M? } { Kilo 1_k? } { 1 1_? }
( Milli 1_m? } { Micro 1_\Gm? } UVAL } TMENU \>>

To use the menu, type a numeric value, then press any menu key to
attach the desired unit prefix symbol (use "1" for "no prefix symbol");
to change to a different unit prefix, press left-shift and then the
new key; note that the numeric portion changes accordingly.

The UVAL command returns the current numeric portion alone,
cutting off any currently attached unit prefixes and units.

Other posted articles concerning Casio-like ENG displays:

"Units Scaling Program (Eng.notation)" 1997/03/23 (unit expressions)

"Casio-style ENG-> and <-ENG for HP48" 1997/09/30 (real numbers)

Both are retrievable from <http://www.dejanews.com/home_ps.shtml>
(from which I just copied this, from a post made only 4 days ago :)

> Gumboot, at an ISP named Clear.Net, in New Zealand.

Is that like a gumshoe?

Simon Hosie

unread,

Mar 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/15/98

to

John H Meyers:

> Try 11 FIX, etc. (the default STD display mode eliminates
> all non-significant leading and trailing zeros).

<grumble> I get a heap of digits that I want even less, then.

> To use the menu, type a numeric value, then press any menu key to
> attach the desired unit prefix symbol (use "1" for "no prefix symbol");
> to change to a different unit prefix, press left-shift and then the
> new key; note that the numeric portion changes accordingly.

Well, that is kinda' neat, but I still have to think to use it. Besides,
it breaks down as soon as I divide 100_M? by 200_m?.

I was hoping for a mode where results come back with the appropriate
suffix where the exponent might otherwise go in engineering mode. I'd be
just as happy with engineering mode if the exponent were better
distinguished from the mantissa (again, the Casio uses smaller characters).

> Other posted articles concerning Casio-like ENG displays:

> ...

> Both are retrievable from <http://www.dejanews.com/home_ps.shtml>
> (from which I just copied this, from a post made only 4 days ago :)

My newsfeed's a bit wobbly (I think I just broke part of the agreement by
saying that). I've been collecting news from this group for at least long
enough for it to start expiring.

Simon Hosie:

> Gumboot, at an ISP named Clear.Net, in New Zealand.

John Meyers:

> Is that like a gumshoe?

That's my K00L HAQR D00D name, don't knock it. Actually it's the thing I
chose for places where some kind of handle is required (computer games,
BBSs, etc.). If there's a reason to not use Gumboot then I use ToobMug. It
has no significance other than that it's not a character from a book and
it's not going to sound any worse in three years.

A gumboot is a loose fitting rubber boot that farmers wear (some New
Zealand farmlands might be a bit muddier than those in the US). Do you have
"waders"? What we call waders in New Zealand are waterproof up to the chest
and are often used for fishing. They start out like a gumboot but keep on
going.

Ken Alverson

unread,

Mar 15, 1998, 3:00:00 AM3/15/98

to

I would try one of the stack replacement programs, see if they can do that.
If not, maybe we can convince one of the stack replacement writers to add
that funcitonality as a flag somewhere. It wouldn't be too hard to make the
exponent smaller when everything is shown as a graphic.

Ken