18 Jun
2011
18 Jun
'11
10:32 a.m.
I always find it interesting that people mention
unpacking an equation
as one of the reasons they don't like RPN. It is funny because that same
unpacking is exactly what is needed to solve the equation.
My view exactrly (and a similar comment was made in the excellent user
manuals for HP RPN calcualtors 30-40 years ago). If you cna evaulate the
experession by hand -- that is if you can work out what operation to do
first, then what to do next, and so on, you cna turn it into RPN with no
more work. And if you can't work out how to do it by hand, I don;t think
you just just type it into a calcualtor or computer to get an answer that
you hope is the right one.
-tony