Different answers from Solve app and solve.SOLVE - latter is "wrong"

[DavZell]

(04-18-2024 01:24 AM)jte Wrote:  Two possibilities that jump to my mind for why an inexact result may be produced for a linear equation of this sort are that

1. a binary floating-point may be in use (that a base of 2, not 10, is being used with the floating-point scaling portion --- A * 2^B can be stored and processed exactly, rather than A * 10^B [for integers A and B within the ranges allowed by the floating-point arithmetic being used]), and
2. an iterative approach is being used to find solutions.
   

When I try this with the current public version, I do see that the Solve app gives different answers depending on the value of X before the Solve app's Solve menu button is pressed. (Solutions found by iterative methods can easily depend on the starting position.)

Good thoughts. Thanks