If I do this in Calc mode:
' 7i-2
It will enter the symbolic algebraic term 7i - 2, which is displayed like so:
--- Emacs Calculator Mode ---
1: 7 i - 2
.
However, if I run A (calc-abs), I only see this:
--- Emacs Calculator Mode ---
1: abs(7 i - 2)
.
In reality, the absolute value of 7i - 2 is sqrt(53). How can I get such a result to show up in Calc mode?
You first have to evaluate the algebraic 7i - 2 by pressing =, such that it is rewritten as (-2, 7). Then you can use calc-abs just like you would on a normal number.
See also the section on complex formats in the Calc manual.
= is exactly what I was looking for. Also, thanks for pointing me to that part of the manual... I had already seen it, but missed the part about =.
– GDP2
Oct 26 '17 at 11:59
