HP-35’s x^y Why?

[Steve Simpkin]

(10-31-2021 07:45 AM)Peet Wrote:  

(10-30-2021 11:43 PM)Steve Simpkin Wrote:  Well the Prime is, first and foremost, an *algebraic* graphing calculator. X^Y is not an unusual label for the power key on traditional algebraic calculators.

e.g. TI59, TI30, HP22S or HP17B also had y^x because even on this algebraic calculators you type the base first and than the exponent. The HP35 way (exponent enter base -> x^y) was strange but the 35 was the first of its kind and HP didn't know any better at the time. The label on the Prime and a key what makes the opposite (Numworks shares this incoherent behavior) is very weird.

Yes, I spoke too soon. While many early Casio scientific calculator models had X^Y keys, almost every other manufacturer had Y^X keys. No mater how they were labeled, they always worked the same way on algebraic models.