HP Prime - CAS solve()
Introduction, HelpThe CAS / solve() function is useful for solving equations involving symbolic and/or numerical coefficients in its terms. Normally, this is used in the CAS view, but can also be used in the Home view. The HP Prime provides useful information about the solve() function and examples you can test yourself. Pressing the Help key when solve() highlighted, or searching Help Tree provides this: The examples that follow show the usefulness and flexibility of the solve() function. Alpha and Shift: In these examples an orange highlighted key indicates Alpha key pressed first. For example, a means Alpha then a keys pressed. Similarly, = means Shift then = keys pressed. |
Example 1: Solve the polynomial equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 for x
Keystrokes | Display, comments |
CAS Toolbox CAS 3Solve 1Solve[1] a × x x2 + b × x + c = 0 , x Enter simplif Enter | Open Toolbox and select Solve Enter equation and variable to solve for (x). Used simplif to simplify the equation as shown.[2] Answer: the quadratic equation shown |
Example 2: Find the solution(s) to the equation x3 - 5x2 -2x +24 = 0
Keystrokes | Display, comments |
CAS Toolbox CAS 3Solve 1Solve xtΘn xy 3 ⇒[3] - 5 xtΘn x2 - 2 xtΘn + 24 Enter | Move to CAS view, open the Toolbox and select Solve Enter the equation to solve. Note that the = sign and , x are optional.
Answer: -2, 3 and 4 are solutions Note that .zeros(), csolve(), cZeros() and proot() give similar solutions. |
The same example worked using solve in the Home view | |
Home Toolbox CAS 3Solve 1Solve xtΘn xy ⇒ 3 - 5 xtΘn x2 - 2 xtΘn + 24 , xtΘn Enter[4] | Move to Home view, open the Toolbox and select Solve In this case, the keystrokes are similar however Home view requires uppercase variables (X vs x). CAS.solve() seeks a solution based on the starting guess. In the last three rows, 25,0 and -25 were entered as starting guesses. Answer: -2, 3 and 4 |
Example 3: A falling object may be described by the following equation:
where d is distance (m) fallen, v0 is initial object downward velocity (m/s), g is gravity (m/sec^2) and t is time (sec).
- Solve for t in terms of the other variables (d, v0 and g).
- How long will it take for the object to fall 500m? Assume v0=0.0 and g=9.8?
Keystrokes | Display, comments |
CAS Toolbox CAS 3Solve 1Solve d = v 0 × t + 0.5 × g × t x2 , t Enter | Move to CAS view, open the Toolbox and select Solve Enter the equation and a variable (t) to solve for The output shows two mathematical solutions. Since time (t) should not be less than zero, the right hand solution may be appropriate. |
Copy
d = 500 , v 0 = 0 , g = 0 Enter | For question b., use copy puts solve() in the command line. Then I used the math palette and selected the substitute key to enter values for d, v0 and g (500, 0 and 0).. The +10.1 seconds seems correct. To check, you can key in the formula from above which also gives 10.1. Other: You can use copy again for the whole solve()|d=500…. and edit the values of d, V0 or t if you want. You can also use nsolve() for this type problem. Check out the Solver App which is especially suited to numerical solutions Answer: about 10.1 seconds |
[1] You could press CAS (3) (1) to choose this menu item
[2] Could have avoided use of simplify by setting CAS simplify = maximum.
[3] ⇒ indicates pressing the right arrow, moving the cursor to the right
[4] xtΘn key can also be used to enter x, t, Θ or n depending on the App you are in.