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Strange behavior FX-502P (x^y and x^1/y)


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#1 Ganymed Kallisto

Ganymed Kallisto

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  • Calculators:
    Casio FX-502P
    Casio FX-602P (2x)
    Casio FX-7000G
    HP 42S
    HP 15C
    HP 12C
    HP 48G
    HP 35S

Posted 13 September 2024 - 07:13 PM

Hello everyone,

 

this is my first post, so first of all thanks for allowing me to register here.

 

I recently acquired a FX-502P, that is in awesome condition hardware- wise.

But it shows a strange behavior with the x^y and x^1/y functions.

It does not calculate these functions correctly, but gives strange results.

Today, I realized, that it seems to calculate the length of the hypotenuse (with the pythagorean theorem).

When I want to calculate 4^3, it gives 5 as the answer. It also gives 5 as the answer, when I calculate 3^4.

So, it seems to treat 3 and 4 as the cathetes, and returns the hypotenuse.

I also verified this with other values: 6^8 gives 10. 8^6 also gives 10. 2^4 gives 4.472135955. 4^2 gives the same number.

 

I haven´t found out yet, what it calculates when using x^1/y. 64^1/3 gives 63.91229022 for example.

 

Does anyone of you have an idea whats happening here? I mean the calculator is about 45 years old now, so it simply could be broken.

But why in the world does it calculate the hypotenuse with pythagorean theorem when using the x^y key???

That doesn´t seem to be a coincidence.

 

The calculator seems to work just fine with all other functions I tested so far.

 

If anybody has an idea, I would be very curious to hear about it.

And if anybody knows, how I can fix it (reset the calculator or something), I also would be very grateful.



#2 Ganymed Kallisto

Ganymed Kallisto

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 2 posts

  • Calculators:
    Casio FX-502P
    Casio FX-602P (2x)
    Casio FX-7000G
    HP 42S
    HP 15C
    HP 12C
    HP 48G
    HP 35S

Posted 16 September 2024 - 10:47 AM

Ok, I hate to admit it, but the problem was me being stupid and not the calculator  :rolleyes:

 

Here's the solution:

On the FX-502P, the inverse functions are printed BELOW the respective keys, and not ABOVE like on the FX-602P, that I'm used to.

 

Long story short: The calculator works like a sharm, and I had my "Homer- moment".




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