Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!bionet!apple!dan
From: dan@Apple.COM (Dan Allen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: hp-48sx symbolic complex number bug
Message-ID: <39483@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 14 Mar 90 21:52:01 GMT
References: <1990Mar13.174255.2517@cec1.wustl.edu>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 23

In article <1990Mar13.174255.2517@cec1.wustl.edu> ksr1492@cec1.wustl.edu (Kevin Scott Ruland) writes:
>
>   Someone posted hp's bug list earlier.  On it was a bug that incorrectl
>translates symbolic complex numbers in polar form to rectangular form.
>This bug was the only one present in the four current rom revisions.
>How does hp suggest "getting around" this bug? And, when do they expect
>to fix it?
>   This bug seems at least as serious as the 8x8 inversion bug and is
>preventing me from buying a 48sx today.

It is really not a big deal at all.  It is only when entering a symbolic
complex number in polar mode that the bug occurs: the numbers are
incorrectly converted to rectangular coordinates during command line
processing.  All you have to do is enter the complex arguments in
reverse order if in polar mode and then everything is fine.

Everyone should remember that internally all numbers are kept in
rectangular coordinates: only the display shows things in polar mode.
It is during this input conversion process that the bug occurs.  Once in
the machine, all is fine.

Dan Allen
Apple Computer