Possible bug on HP50G with very large numbers

[Wes Loewer]

(I wrote this before I noticed that others gave explanations, but I figured I might as well post this since I typed it out.)

This is not bug at all but rather the floating point number simply overflowing.

LOG(281!) = 69 + LOG(a 499 digit number) = 69 + LOG(4.71301006165E498) = 69 + 498.673298367 = 567.673298367, so a 568 digit number

LOG(282!) = 69 + LOG(a 502 digit number) = 69 + LOG(overflow to 9.99999999999E499) = 69 + 500 = 569, but not really a 569 digit number because of the overflow

If you go to MODE and set system flag 21 to make overflow an error, you'll see that LOG(281!) works but LOG(282!) produces an Overflow error message.

Sometimes it's best to have overflow produce an error rather than produce an incorrect value. Other times, you just want the biggest floating point number the calculator can produce. It's your choice.