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>>HP30S (24 digits), except for square
>>root (12 digits)
Wow. Why is sqrt(x) lagging? Common square root algorithms work very similarly to division & reciprocal algorithms. Unless they totally ran out of ROM space and picked a reduction in sqrt(X) precision as the best compromise, this looks like an oversight.
I believe - it's been awhile - that there's a CORDIC-like shift/add algorithm for square root too - each iteration would deliver one digit (either binary bit, hex digit or BCD digit, according to base of numeration system and algorithm flavora) of result. Square root is fairly well-behaved too - unlike asymptotic tan(x) near 90deg and log(x), ln(x) near 0.
Bill Wiese
San Jose, CA
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i have also noticed square root is less accurate. if you root with logs you can get more accuracy that the built in square root.
that said, its not necessarily a recommendation for the hp30s.