Owner's handbook and programming guide, HP-41C

The Yx function is also a two-number operation. It is used to raise numbers to powers, and you can use it in the same simple way that you use every other two-number function:

	1.	Key in the first number.

	2.	Press ENTER to separate the first number from the second.

	3.	Key in the second number (the power).

	4.	Execute the function (press g Yx

When working with any function (including Yx ), you should remember that the displayed number is designated x by the function symbols.

So means square root of the displayed number, 1/x means 1/displayed number, etc.

Let's solve a problem using the Yx function. Calculate 4⁷:

Keystrokes	Display

4	4 _
ENTER	4.0000
7	7 _
g Yx	16,384.0000

Now try the following problems using the Yx function, keeping in mind the simple rules for two-number functions:

16⁴ (16 to the 4^th power)	=	65,536.0000	(16 ENTER 4 g Yx )
2¹⁵ (2 to the 15^th power)	=	32,768.0000	(2 ENTER 15 g Yx )
81² (18 squared)	=	6,561.0000	(18 ENTER 2 g Yx )
			(You could also have done this as a one-number function using X2 .)

Chain Calculations

The speed and simplicity of operation of the Hewlett-Packard logic system become most apparent during chain calculation. Even during the longest of calculations, you still perform only one operation at a time, and you see the results as you calculate—the Hewlett-Packard automatic memory stack (covered in detail in section 3) stores up to four intermediate results inside the HP-41C until you need them, then insert them into the calculation. This system makes the process of working through a problem as natural as it would be if you were working it out with pencil and paper; but the calculator takes care of the hard part.