Owner manual

Complex Numbers
Complex The HP 38G can return a complex number as a result for
Results some math functions, A complex number appears as an
ordered pair (x, y), where x is the real part and y is the
imaginary part. For example, entering returns (0,1).
To enter Enter the number in either of these forms, where x is the real
complex part, y is the imaginary part, and i is the imaginary constant,
numbers ,JZ\-
e (X, y) or
e X + iy ,
To type i, press ■ | A...Z 11, or copy i from the Constant
category in the MATH menu.
Clearing Numbers
• I DEL I clears the character under the cursor (|). j
backspaces when the cursor is after the last character.
® CANCEL (|ON|) clears the edit line.
• ■ [CLEAR] clears all input and output in the display,
including the display history.
Using Previous Results
The Home display shows you four lines of input/output
history. An unlimited (except by memory) number of
previous lines are available by scrolling. You can retrieve and
reuse any of these values or expressions.
Last Answer You can reuse the last answer at any point in the edit line by
([ANSWER]) pressing ■ [ANSWER], This recalls the variable Ans (last
answer), the result from your last | enter].
The variable Ans is different from the numbers in Home's
display history, A value in Ans is stored internally with the full
precision of the calculated result, whereas the displayed
numbers match the display mode. When you retrieve a
number from Ans, you obtain the result to its full precision.
When you retrieve a number from Home’s display history, you
obtain exactly what was displayed.
2-4 Mathematical Calculations