log((0.53)/x^2))=((-4.86)/(1.98)(10^-3))((1/200)-(1/400))
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document.write( "I'm assuming your problem, when written in standard form is:\r\n" );
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\r\n" );
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document.write( "On the left side of the equation you have a mistake -- an extra right\r\n" );
document.write( "parenthesis \")\". So delete one of those first on the end of the left side,\r\n" );
document.write( "like this:\r\n" );
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document.write( "log((0.53)/x^2)=((-4.86)/(1.98)(10^-3))((1/200)-(1/400))\r\n" );
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document.write( "I'm just going to copy and paste something from NC State University's\r\n" );
document.write( "site, \r\n" );
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document.write( "http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/kenny/papers/ti.html\r\n" );
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document.write( "and modify it for your problem.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The TI has a built-in \"solver\" that finds answers to algebra problems.\r\n" );
document.write( "First of all, the only equations the calculator can solve are of the form \r\n" );
document.write( "some function=0. This sounds like a limitation, but it's not, because any\r\n" );
document.write( "algebra problem can be recast that way. You simply rewrite your equation \r\n" );
document.write( "as\r\n" );
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document.write( "log((0.53)/x^2)-((-4.86)/(1.98)(10^-3))((1/200)-(1/400))=0\r\n" );
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document.write( "Hit the MATH key. This takes you to the MATH menu. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Scroll down until the cursor is on Solver... and hit ENTER \r\n" );
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document.write( "[or \r\n" );
document.write( "Instead of scrolling around, you can just hit the number 0 since \r\n" );
document.write( "Solver... is option #0.]\r\n" );
document.write( " \r\n" );
document.write( "Here's where the step-by-step-instruction thing becomes a little tricky.\r\n" );
document.write( "Because there are two different solver screens, and which one you land on\r\n" );
document.write( "depends on whether you have ever used the solver before. \r\n" );
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document.write( "You may end up on a screen like this: let's call it \"solver screen 1\". \r\n" );
document.write( " \r\n" );
document.write( "\"Solver screen 1\": you'll see this\r\n" );
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document.write( "(The last equation that was solved or the default one that came on your\r\n" );
document.write( "calculator) \r\n" );
document.write( "X= (some number) \r\n" );
document.write( "* bound={-1E99,1... \r\n" );
document.write( "* left-rt=0\r\n" );
document.write( " \r\n" );
document.write( "The equation on top is the last equation anyone used the solver for or the\r\n" );
document.write( "default one that came on your calculator, and it is not the equation\r\n" );
document.write( "you want. So, you need to change that equation before you do anything else. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Hit the up arrow key. You'd think this would just move the cursor up, but\r\n" );
document.write( "actually the whole screen changes. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Hit CLEAR to erase the function that was previously there. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Now—either because you just never used the solver before, or because you just\r\n" );
document.write( "used the up arrow and CLEAR, you are now in what I call (you guessed it) \r\n" );
document.write( "\"solver screen 2\". \r\n" );
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document.write( "EQUATION SOLVER\r\n" );
document.write( "eqn:0=\r\n" );
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document.write( "Type your function. In your example, you would type\r\n" );
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document.write( " log((0.53)/x^2)-((-4.86)/(1.98)(10^-3))((1/200)-(1/400)) \r\n" );
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document.write( "and you see:\r\n" );
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document.write( "EQUATION SOLVER\r\n" );
document.write( "eqn:0= log((0.53)/x^2)-((-4.86)/(1.98)(10^-3))((1/200)-(1/400))\r\n" );
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document.write( "Hit ENTER. This takes you back to...solver screen 1! And this is the \r\n" );
document.write( "trickiest moment. You'll see this:\r\n" );
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document.write( "log((0.53/X^2...=0\r\n" );
document.write( " X=(some number)\r\n" );
document.write( " bound={-1E99,1...\r\n" );
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document.write( "It looks as though it has solved your equation as the number after X=.\r\n" );
document.write( "But in fact, it hasn't done anything yet. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Type a number into the X= place. Use, say, 1 for starters. This number tells \r\n" );
document.write( "the calculator where to start looking for a solution. For instance, if you\r\n" );
document.write( "had typed 4, the calculator would start looking in the vicinity of X=4 for a\r\n" );
document.write( "solution to the equation. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Hit ALPHA and then hit the ENTER key. This is the SOLVE command that\r\n" );
document.write( "you see in green above the ENTER key.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now, the calculator actually solves your equation, and puts its new answer \r\n" );
document.write( "into the X= spot. You will now see:\r\n" );
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document.write( "log((0.53/X^2...=0\r\n" );
document.write( "*X=.72801322260\r\n" );
document.write( " bound={-1E99,1...\r\n" );
document.write( "*left-rt=0\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the answer is X=.72801322260\r\n" );
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document.write( "Whew! That's a lengthy process to explain. But once you've done it a \r\n" );
document.write( "few times, it's actually a very quick process to execute. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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