I've been trying to get the calculator to solve simultaneous equations, and it's annoyingly slow, especially with regards to the TI-89 of some of my classmates. They can get the answer in 2-3 seconds and mine will take 30-45 seconds. Some it doesn't seem to want to come anywhere close to the right answer. Is there a better solution than the MSLV to do this?
For example, 80*cos(30)-T*sin(theta)=0 and 80*cos(30)-T-T*cos(theta)=0 doesn't want to head in the right direction even with the default guesses of 0 for both variables. I assigned units of degrees to the numbers so they would work right. I figured it would whip it out in no time, but it kept going so I interrupted it and just plugged it in by hand. That's a relatively simple one to do that way, but they aren't all so simple.
I'm somewhat new to the calculator and have only scratched the surface of what it can do, so maybe I'm going about this all wrong. I would love to hear that because it's embarrassing to still be waiting while the TI crowd has long since had the answer. Also frustrating thinking ahead to exams when I might not have the extra time to wait. (No, I'm not worried about the 45 seconds, but the few different sets of equations that I had to interrupt because they weren't even headed the right way.)
I've done a bunch of google searches, I've downloaded different solvers, but I can't seem to get them to work like they should. I get them installed, but then using them is usually not as easy as I expect and it seems like I'm fighting them MUCH more than they're helping me. If there's one I should definitely try out, please let me know.
Thanks in advance!!
Erik