EEX Problem with CAS Programs

[Joe Horn]

(06-23-2014 12:36 AM)Helge Gabert Wrote:  Drove me nuts:

My CAS program wouldn't compile for some reason; I checked all the lines of code, re-checked, still didn't work. Only after isolating each expression, I became clear that
in "1E-3", "E" apparently cannot be typed in with the EEX key.

Instead, the user needs to erase the funny looking "E" (from EEX) and replace it in the program with the "E" from the letter keys. Unbelievable.

(This is not a problem with non-CAS programs).

Correct: A small "E" exponent symbol immediately followed by a negative sign cannot be parsed correctly by CAS. This is a known bug (mentioned in this forum before). Example:

1. Home
2. EEX [+/-] 3 (don't press Enter)
3. CAS
4. Enter --> error

As you noticed, the workaround is to use an ordinary "E" or "e" instead of EEX in CAS programs, CAS formulae in the Spreadsheet, etc. The EEX key can be used in the CAS itself, however, because in CAS it types an "e", not the special small "E".