Today I stumbled across a YouTube video that advertises the HP-9100 classroom system and shows computer-based education. This is a fantastic movie and a must view! Besides the HP-9100 calculator, it also shows many peripherals in action. Enjoy!

thanks! I love the black and white movie and the voice of the narrator, such adorably old school!

I enjoyed the lesson very much but wondered what he's actually calculating.

increment = 1

t =   0.00   s =     0.00   phi =     0.00

t =   1.00   s =   101.29   phi =    -9.15

t =   2.00   s =   212.34   phi =   -25.78

t =   3.00   s =   340.72   phi =   -38.83

t =   4.00   s =   491.39   phi =   -48.42

t =   5.00   s =   667.44   phi =   -55.39

t =   6.00   s =   870.83   phi =   -60.55

t =   7.00   s =  1102.79   phi =   -64.46

s =  1102.79

     =======

increment = 0.5

t =   0.00   s =     0.00   phi =     0.00

t =   0.50   s =    50.16   phi =    -4.60

t =   1.00   s =   101.60   phi =   -13.58

t =   1.50   s =   155.50   phi =   -21.92

t =   2.00   s =   212.89   phi =   -29.40

t =   2.50   s =   274.63   phi =   -35.92

t =   3.00   s =   341.42   phi =   -41.52

t =   3.50   s =   413.79   phi =   -46.30

t =   4.00   s =   492.18   phi =   -50.37

t =   4.50   s =   576.93   phi =   -53.84

t =   5.00   s =   668.30   phi =   -56.82

t =   5.50   s =   766.50   phi =   -59.39

t =   6.00   s =   871.72   phi =   -61.63

t =   6.50   s =   984.08   phi =   -63.58

t =   7.00   s =  1103.71   phi =   -65.29

s =  1103.71

     =======

Here's the Python-program that does it:

#!/usr/bin/python

from math import sqrt, atan2, pi

def deg(rad):

    return 180*rad/pi

v = 100

g = 32.2

(x0, y0) = (x, y) = (0, 800)

s = 0

t = 7

inc = 0.5

for n in range(0, int(round(t/inc)) + 1):

    t = inc * n

    (x_, y_) = (x, y)

    (x, y) = (x0 + v*t, y0 - g*t**2/2)

    (dx, dy) = (x - x_, y - y_)

    ds = sqrt(dx**2 + dy**2)

    s += ds 

    phi = deg(atan2(dy, dx))

    print "t = %6.2f   s = %8.2f   phi = %8.2f" % (t, s, phi)

print

print "s = %8.2f" % s

Quote:

---

And what would happen if we put in a hundredth?

---

s =  1104.01

     =======

Can somebody provide an actual program for the HP-9100?

Kind regards

Thomas

PS: Just noticed that the time in the video doesn't seem to be correct: it's always one step ahead.

Edited: 6 Dec 2012, 8:36 p.m.

WolframAlpha told me that the exact length of that path is:

So we can verify the approximation:

#!/usr/bin/python

from math import sqrt, log

v0 = 100

g = 32.2

def path(t):

    v = g*t

    w = sqrt(v**2 + v0**2)

    return (v*w + v0**2 * log(g*(w + v)))/(2*g)

s = path(7) - path(0)

print "exact s = %.20f" % s

exact s = 1104.0144112415

          ===============

Cheers

Thomas

That is a nice find. However, did I understand correctly the "very reasonable cost" of purchase of the calculator and card reader given at 19mins:40seconds as:
over 5 years, 26 programs/class, 6 classes/day, 180 days/year, costing <5c/program,
suggesting it worked out at somewhere approaching 7020 dollars at 1968 prices! I wonder how many schools could actually afford one at the time.

Nick

i am left wondering:

- where is the school
- what did the students went on to be? scientists? teachers? engineers? home makers?
- did HP ever sold large quantities of HP 9100 to schools?

i don't think HP is the same company today as it was in the movie. this is compounded by the latest forecast of HP break up in 2013.

http://blogs.reuters.com/breakingviews/2012/12/06/hp-breakup-is-on-tech-worlds-2013-agenda/

Tim, if you're reading this, come over to Malaysia where Agilent still has a manufacturing facility. i fear the days of RPN calculators will be numbered.

hpnut in Malaysia