The issue of the exponent problem comes into play when you are getting the nth root of a negative value.
-----Original Message----- From: Alex Hall [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 2:50 PM To: Kevin Chao; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Calculator issues that ought to be addressed The issue of the calculator displaying 0 when it produces an error is, I think, a simple one; if an error is thrown that causes the tone to be produced, display something in braille. If not then 0 means that the answer is 0. Sure it is good to know the theory behind math, but a calculator is supposed to do math for you so that you do not have to do it out long-hand, which can be especially frustrating when you are blind. What good is having the calculator at all if you have to check, by hand, the complex expressions you give it? As for roots, I still do not quite understand the problem, but you can do roots above square by raising a number to a fraction or raising a number to 1/root, in parentheses, where root is the root number (2 for square, 3 for cube and so on). I have not been able to duplicate the grouping and nesting of expressions problem. I tried: (1+2)?(1?(2+3)) and it worked fine. Have a great day, Alex > ----- Original Message ----- >From: Kevin Chao <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: "'Stephen'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"'BrailleNote List'" <[email protected] >Date sent: Thu, 15 May 2008 13:50:56 -0700 >Subject: RE: [Braillenote] Calculator issues that ought to be addressed >Steve, >Very valid points, I think that these issues are also important being a huge >math fan. But where is the limit of the calculator, shall we ask for the >ability to do matrices and inverse matrices; be able to graph parabolic, >cubic, sinusoidal functions and other curves? >I will run through the suggestions that you provided and provide my >comments. >1. When an attempt is made to do an opperation which the calculator can not >perform, it should produce an appropriate message as well as the error >beep--(rather than 0). >This is true, but let's say someone tries, "-4^-2" and you get the answer >of 0 followed by an error tone if speech is on/request. The most important >thing before using a calculator is being able to conceptualize the >mathematical problem and to be able to do it by hand or if it isn't >possible, know why it isn't possible. For example, let's rewrite the >expression without a negaitve exponent, it would be, "-(1/4)^2" yielding an >answer of 1/16. KeyPlus has an issue with the negative sign before the "4" >and produces a 0 instead of the correct answer as well as an error tone. If >someone has this as expression they must answer and they write the answer as >0 because that is what the calculator provided, I would then suggest Math >Tutorial as this shows a lack of understanding of the mathematical concept >and a dependacy on the calculator. >2. At the moment, you can not follow the left bracket with a minus sign. >Although this does not matter for a number, you might want to minus a >further bracketed expression. >I feel this should be possible. >This is possible with things moving around properly and parenthese being >placed at the right locations. Can you provide an example and I will turn it >around? >3. >This will need checking by someone who knows maths. >It seems reasonable for the calculator to struggle with even roots of >negative numbers. >For example how will it cope with square root or fourth root of -1? >However, should it be able to deal with odd roots? >For example a cube root of -8 is -2. >First, it should be math not maths. -1^(1/2) is where we get into imaginary >numbers and I think is beyond the ability of KeyPlus. Again, this goes back >to being able to conceptualize the mathematical problem, if we know that >-28(1/3) is -2 then why pull out the calculator? >^1/2 = square root >^1/3 = cube root >Most of the above issues are issues of math skills not an issue with a >calculator. >Kevin >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen >Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:09 PM >To: BrailleNote List >Subject: [Braillenote] Calculator issues that ought to be addressed >Hi, >There are three things which I believe need dealing with in the calculator. >The first two have been forwarded by an HW contact to the technical folks, >the third hasn't. >These are:- >1. When an attempt is made to do an opperation which the calculator can not >perform, it should produce an appropriate message as well as the error >beep--(rather than 0). >2. At the moment, you can not follow the left bracket with a minus sign. >Although this does not matter for a number, you might want to minus a >further bracketed expression. >I feel this should be possible. >3. >This will need checking by someone who knows maths. >It seems reasonable for the calculator to struggle with even roots of >negative numbers. >For example how will it cope with square root or fourth root of -1? >However, should it be able to deal with odd roots? >For example a cube root of -8 is -2. >Regards, >Steve. >---------------------------------------------------------- >"seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;" >(Matthew 6:33 AV) >---------------------------------------------------------- >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as >well. >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG. >Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1434 - Release Date: 5/15/2008 >7:24 AM >No virus found in this outgoing message. >Checked by AVG. >Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1434 - Release Date: 5/15/2008 >7:24 AM >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >copy to the list as well. >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1434 - Release Date: 5/15/2008 7:24 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.16/1434 - Release Date: 5/15/2008 7:24 AM ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
