Graphing Calculators and Computers in Math

• Binary Conversion [Stirling, 01/07/1998]
  In an adult computer course we are supposed convert binary numbers to real numbers and binary to hexadecimal.

• Decimal To Fraction Conversion [Lawson, 06/25/1998]
  I am trying to find a method (one that can be programmed on a PC) to convert the decimal part of a real number to a fraction reprsented by integers for the numerator and denominator.

• Dividing by Zero on a Calculator or Computer [Harmon, 2/12/1996]
  Whenever I try to divide a number by 0, I get an error on both my computer and calculator. Please explain to me why this can't be done.

• Year 2000 (Y2K) Problem [Rose, 07/26/1998]
  Can you explain the Year 2000 problem in layman's terms? Why is it so hard to fix?

• Games for TI Calculators [ljunghei, 6/6/1995]
  Where can I find programs for a TI-82 calculator?

• Calculator for Algebra I and Physical Science [St. George, 8/11/1995]
  My son is taking Algebra I and a first course in physical science this semester. Do you have a recommendation for a calculator?

• Math Tutorials [Hart, 11/15/1995]
  Windows-based tutorials for high school and college level algebra.

• KaleidoTile [Bau, 11/15/1995]
  I would appreciate it if you would tell me a bit about KaleidoTile.

• Writing a Program to Generate Primes [Thurber, 12/5/1996]
  I need a list of the first 100 prime numbers and a way of generating them.

• Computers and Calculators in Math Today [Stiles, 12/6/1995]
  For a term paper on math, I need to know how computers and calculators play a big part in math today.

• Inverse Sine Function on a Calculator [Betty, 5/14/1996]
  Finding Arcsin(y) using a calculator.

• High School Math Software [Lingil, 7/12/1996]
  Where can I get good shareware/freeware programs that deal with high school math topics?

• 2D Graphing Software: Maple [Chew, 7/15/1996]
  Could you recommend any PC software that could help me study hyperbolas and other curves?

• Recommended Algebra Software [BenDor, 7/23/1996]
  I am looking for math software programs with a focus on algebra.

• Software for High School Math [Vince, 8/26/1996]
  Do you know of any software available for helping a 15 year-old with areas she has trouble with [algebra, geometry etc...]?

• Radius, Center of Circle Given 3 Points [Simmons, 8/28/1996]
  What is an easy formula to calculate the center point and radius of a circle given three points on the circumference?

• The Perimeter of an Ellipse or Oval [Friend, 9/5/1996]
  What is the formula for calculating the perimeter of an oval, or an ellipse?

• Program to Find N-digits of Pi [Greg, 9/11/1996]
  I am writing C code to find the first N digits of pi, but I am limited by the number of digits that C's built-in types can store.

• Pane Rotation - Computer Graphics [Bart, 11/14/1996]
  How do I find a formula for rotating a pane in space?

• Check Digits in Payroll or Stock Numbers [Tombs, 11/16/1996]
  What is the set of calculations required to get a unique check digit?

• Calculators and Trig Functions [Kuhn, 12/03/1996]
  How do calculators solve trigonometric functions? Is there any way to determine the y value on a graph of the arc subtended by the angle theta?

• Computers and Trigonometric Functions [Hicks, 02/11/1997]
  How do computers and calculators calculate values for sine, cosine, and tangent?

• Expressing Arccos in Terms of Arctan [Neubert, 02/24/1997]
  How do you express Arccos in terms of Arctan?

• Matrices and TI Calculators [Nichols, 03/06/1997]
  How do I solve a set of three equations in three unknowns using matrices on my TI-82 calculator?

• Program to Calculate Pi [Kirklin, 05/23/1997]
  I am trying to write a program on my TI-83 calculator to calculate the infinite digits of Pi while displaying them on-screen.

• 3-D Points to a 2-D computer screen [Savage, 07/25/1997]
  I am trying to write a 3-D graphics engine that takes 8 points with their own (X,Y,Z) coordinates to plot a CUBE in 3-D space...

• Exponents on a Scientific Calculator [Brownfield, 08/21/1997]
  My problem is that I am not using the EXP key correctly...

• Synthetic Division on the HP48 [Bacchus, 09/11/1997]
  I read that you have a program for synthetic division for the HP48. I was wondering if you could send it to me?

• Factorial on TI-83 [Carrigan, 09/24/1997]
  What is the origin of the TI-83 definition of factorial (in increments of 0.5) and where is it used? What resources would you suggest?

• Ways to Make Change for $1.00 [ODonnell, 10/02/1997]
  Are there really 292 ways to make change for $1.00?

• Mapping 3D Line Segments [Ice, 10/06/1997]
  How do I map 3D line segments onto a 2D perspective as seen from an arbitrary point in space?

• Large Prime Numbers [Ware, 12/17/1997]
  Is there an algorithm to determine whether a very large number is prime?

• Arccos Algorithms and Computer Calculators [Gilson, 03/21/1998]
  I need an algorithm to find the arccos of a value.

• Trig Functions of Angles Expressed in Degrees and Minutes [Retzack, 05/04/1998]
  Using calculators to evaluate trigonometry functions of angles expressed in degrees and minutes.

• Computers: Defining Logical Operations [Towella, 05/21/1998]
  Can you tell me the meaning of the following logical operations: AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, NOT?

• HP-38G Graphic Calculator [Mr. R, 08/29/1998]
  I'm having trouble graphing on my HP-38G calculator. Can you help?

• Introduction to Fractals [Donaldson, 09/02/1998]
  Can you give me some basic information on fractals? How would you create one?

• Multiplying and Dividing Computer Style [Hodsdon, 09/08/1998]
  How does a computer multiply and divide?

• Random and Pseudorandom Numbers [Sagebiel, 10/13/1998]
  When are the numbers of a sequence truly random numbers and not pseudorandom?

• History of Writing Decimals and Number Lines [Kim, 10/28/1998]
  Why, on a number line, are the negative numbers are on the left? When you deal with decimals, why are the whole numbers are on the left?

• Repeating Decimals [Grabowski, 04/28/1999]
  I am interested in finding longer repeating groups in number tails of repeating decimals.

• Working with Huge Numbers [Sherrington-Kendall, 05/15/1999]
  How can I work out a number such as 4 to the 300 billionth power?

• Calculators - CORDIC Method [Warren, 05/16/1999]
  How can a computer or calculator calculate square roots, cube roots, Xth root, x^y, logarithm, sine, cosine, ...?

• Order of Operations [WuandHeil, 05/19/1999]
  Given a, b, x, and y, find ax/by.

• Left Associativity [Mike, 05/27/1999]
  Is the 'left to right' rule in mathematics a law or is it just used for consistency?

• A Program to Compute Pi [Rembold, 06/09/1999]
  Can you tell me a good algorithm to calculate pi? I want to calculate pi as exactly as possible with more than 1000 figures.

• Two's Complement [Corbin, 07/13/1999]
  What is two's complement and how is it used?

• Using TI's Equation Solver [Ashley, 09/27/1999]
  How can I use the TI-82 equation solver to solve equations like x-9=0, 2x=0, and 3x-6=0?

• EE Key on a Calculator [Galczynski, 10/25/1999]
  What does "EE" on the calculator stand for?

• C++ Program to Convert Decimal to Binary [Kaufman, 10/26/1999]
  Can you show me a C++ routine that converts decimal numbers to binary?

• Mod Function and Negative Numbers [Anne, 04/28/2000]
  What is the correct value for the function MOD(-340,60)? Microsoft Excel returns the value 20, while Lotus 1-2-3 returns the value -40. Can you explain the difference?

• How a CPU Adds Decimal Numbers [Farina, 10/22/2000]
  How does an 8-bit CPU add up two four-digit decimal numbers, and why does it take four operations to do so?

• Math in Computer History [Sarah, 11/04/2000]
  I'm doing a major project on the history of computers, focusing on the mathematical issues and ideas. Can you list some math topics and the names of some key mathematicians who were involved?

• Parity Check [HF, 11/12/2000]
  What is a parity check, and how does it work?

• What is ASCII? [Monique, 12/19/2000]
  What is ASCII and how does it relate to binary?

• C++ Abundant Number Program [Agbor, 01/26/2001]
  Is there a computer science C++ formula that allows the user to find whether a number is abundant, deficient, or perfect?

• XOR Operation [James, 01/23/2001]
  An explanation and a few examples of the XOR operation.

• Theta Notation: Complexity and the Step Function [Boxer, 02/05/2001]
  What does the Greek letter theta mean in this formula?

• Analog-to-Digital Conversion [Grady, 02/07/2001]
  How do I do an analog-to-digital conversion of text and strings, or of tactile senses?

• Converting Bits to Megabytes [Brittany, 02/12/2001]
  The human brain will store 100 trillion bits in its lifetime. How many million megabytes can your brain store?

• Combining Multiple Signals in Data Transmission [Bongers, 02/18/2001]
  How can a cable carry so much information? How can data carriers compress multiple signals and then pull them apart again?

• Limit of Cos(Cos( ... Cos(x) ... ))) [Dellinger, 02/24/2001]
  Find the limit of a repeating trigonometric expression cos(cos( ... cos(x) ... )) as the number of cosines goes to infinity.

• Generating Random Numbers [Sanchez, 02/24/2001]
  Would you know of any congruential models for the generation of random numbers?

• Julian to Calendar Date Conversion [Attwell, 02/24/2001]
  Can you show me an algorithm to convert Julian date values to calendar date values? For example, Julian date 2451964 = 02/24/2001.

• What are Flops? [McCormick, 02/25/2001]
  What are flops, as relating to computers?

• Fabric Left on a Roll [Rob, 03/15/2001]
  I am going to write a program for my TI-83+ to calculate how many feet of material are left on a roll.

• Programming the Distance Formula [Payette, 03/26/2001]
  I want to write a computer program to find the point on a line that's a distance X from a given point not on the line. Can you help?

• Why Isn't a Kilobyte 1,000 Bytes? [England, 03/29/2001]
  If the prefix kilo- means 1000, why is a kilobyte 1024 bytes instead of 1000 bytes?

• Determining File Compression Ratio [Nusen, 04/11/2001]
  What equation will find compression ratio regardless of the time it took to compress?

• Finding Roots on a Calculator [Moore, 04/22/2001]
  How can I use the equation HPR = (1.667)^(1/5) on a calculator that does not have a fifth root key?

• Interpreting 2^3^2 [Douglas, 04/26/2001]
  Why is 2^3^2 interpreted as 2^(3^2) = 512 instead of (2^3)^2 = 64?

• Calculators and Irrational Numbers [King, 05/02/2001]
  When I square the square root of 11 on any calculator, I get the answer 11 (exactly). That seems to indicate that the square root of 11 is a rational number, but it's not. Can you explain this?

• System-Level Programming and Base 2 [Eric, 05/03/2001]
  In computer programming, I have a result that contains several values, always a power of 2 (2^2, 2^3, 2^4). If my value is 2^3, 2^4, 2^6 304, how can I tell if 2^3 exists in 304?

• What is Modulus? [Bryan, 06/06/2001]
  I have used the mod command and know what the results mean, but I don't understand the theory behind it and what is actually happening.

• Rolling a Die 600 and 5000 Times [Tory, 06/03/2001]
  Toss a die 600 times, 5000 times. How many times does each number come up? Approximately how many would you expect?

• Floating 2 [Britney, 06/12/2001]
  Start with the number 2 on the far left side, then float the number 2 to the far right side; the new number must be three as large as the old number.

• What's 'Arccos'? [Daniel, 06/17/2001]
  I'm trying to write a program in Visual Basic 6 about the distance calculation between two cities.

• Definition of Floating Point Data [Judy, 07/02/2001]
  What are 'floating point data'? How do they differ from an integer? What are some examples?

• Probability and the Prisoner Problem [Nick, 07/04/2001]
  Each of 16 prisoners receives a hat that is either red or blue (the colour is selected randomly; each has a 1/2 probability). All the prisoners must simultaneously either try to guess the colour of their hats, or pass.

• Sum of Unit Fractions [Candyce, 07/17/2001]
  By induction, prove that every proper fraction p/q with p less than q can be written as a finite sum of distinct reciprocals of positive integers.

• Arc Midpoint [Jon, 07/17/2001]
  I'm trying to figure out the midpoint of an arc where I know the start and end points of the arc and the radius only.

• Finding Pi in C++ [Chris, 10/10/2001]
  I want to write a program in C++ to find the first 100 digits in Pi following the sequence: 4-(4/3)+(4/5)-(4/7)+...

• Perfect Number Algorithm [Cristopher, 10/24/2001]
  I'm having trouble creating an algorithm to test whether or not a number is a Perfect Number. I'm trying to find one that would be easily translatable into C++ code.

• Summation Notation for TI86 [Nicole, 10/29/2001]
  I was wondering if there was an easier way to do our assignment on a TI86...

• How Many Triangles? [Aliaa, 10/30/2001]
  If we join one point on each of the three sides of a triangle to make another triangle, there are three triangles with vertices pointing up. How many triangles will have vertices pointing up if there are n points?

• Converting a Decimal Hour [Steve, 11/22/2001]
  How do I convert 1.7 hours into hours, min, sec? Is there a standard formula I can use? I would like to put this into an Excel spreadsheet.

• Primality Test [Maria, 11/26/2001]
  I want to write a program using Pascal that will verify whether a number is prime.

• Twos Complement Notation [Klaartje, 12/17/2001]
  How to make a 2-byte negative; where in the 16 bits the sign bit is place, and why.

• Why Don't Calculators Accept (-2)^(2/3)? [Aaron, 02/17/2002]
  If you punch (-2_^(2/3) into a scientific calculator, it gives an error message. Could you explain why?

• Pascal Calendar Program [Danilo, 02/12/2002]
  Holiday homework: make a program in Pascal that with a date of our choice give us the day of the week.

• Binary Division and Negative Binary Numbers [Marc, 02/24/2002]
  Suppose you enter 11111000 into a binary calculator. How would it know whether that is to be 248 or -8? How does the computer begin the division process? What does it do when it cannot right shift the bits?

• Algorithm for Simple Fractional Exponents. [Matthew, 03/14/2002]
  How can I explain to my program how to resolve simple fractional exponents using only addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square, and square root?

• Integer Modulus vs. Remainder [Roger, 03/14/2002]
  We were taught by our computer professors that the modulus is the remainder of an integer division, but your discussion leads me to believe this is not quite true.

• TI-86 Base Conversion Program [Amber, 03/19/2002]
  I have finished writing a program that can convert any number in any base (one-ten) to base ten. Now I am writing a program to convert any number in base ten to a given base.

• Compute 16-bit One's Complement Sum [John, 03/20/2002]
  In my TCP/IP book it says, "to compute the IP checksum for outgoing datagram, the value of checksum field is set to zero, then the 16-bit one's complement sum of the header is calculated (i.e. the entire header is considered a sequence of 16-bit words)" - but I do not know how to compute the one's complement sum.

• Non-Linear Equations and Chaotic Systems [Andrew, 03/21/2002]
  Are any non-linear equations used to predict complex or chaotic systems such as traffic or flocking birds?

• Fraction Algorithm [Gil, 03/19/2002]
  I have been having trouble making an application that can convert a finite decimal to a fraction without doing 78349/1000000.

• What is a Terabyte? [Taina, 03/24/2002]
  What is a terabyte? I know a gigabyte is one billon bytes.