Complex Powers & Roots on RPN-67

[Nigel (UK)]

(01-06-2023 08:05 PM)Matt Agajanian Wrote:  

(01-06-2023 09:22 AM)Nigel (UK) Wrote:  For each number you need to enter its imaginary part first.

Nigel (UK)

Thanks for the tip. Just curious,

With the real number range, 3^5 would be entered as 3 ENTER 5 *. So why would complex numbers need to be entered in reverse (3+5i as 5 [5 ENTER 3 ENTER])?

It's normal to write a complex number as \(x+{\rm i}y\). So, on an RPN calculator, it seems natural to have \(x\) - the real part - in the X register, and \(y\) - the imaginary part - in the Y register. To make this work, you have to enter Y and then X. The good this is that when you get your answer, what is in the display - the X register - is the real part of the answer, which I think is what you should see first.

Many other RPN calculators work in this way. (The 42S is an exception - there may be others?)

Nigel (UK)