Modern Electronics (was Re: List charter mods & headcount... ;

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Wed Jun 23 17:23:45 2004

> > How many current students can find a square root without
> > a sqrt or x^y key on a calculator?
>
> How many can do a *cube* root without a calculator
> (or log/alog tables)?

I would have to stop and think, but I know I _could_ work out the Newton
iteration for it (becuase I did it once a couple of years back).

>
> I suspect the "bar" is far lower than suggested here.
> I'd wager "long division" sets many scratching their
> heads...

 Now, what about non-restoring long division?

>
> > How many even know the square root of 2 and 3?
>
> 2.236+ ;-)

No, that's the square root of 2+3. The square root of 2 AND 3 (assuming a
normal binary machine) is presumably somewhere close to 1.4142 :-)

-tony
Received on Wed Jun 23 2004 - 17:23:45 BST