[Axiom-developer] [#87 solve(x + 1.1, 0.001) fails]

[anonymous]

??changed:
-There are 20 exposed and 3 unexposed library operations named solve
-having 2 argument(s) but none was determined to be applicable.
-Use HyperDoc Browse, or issue
-)display op solve
-to learn more about the available operations. Perhaps
-package-calling the operation or using coercions on the arguments
-will allow you to apply the operation.
-
-
\begin{axiom}
solve(x+1.1,0.001)
\end{axiom}

As with any software, one must learn the correct syntax of commands.  For some 
unknown reason, Axiom does not have a solve function with signature:

{\tt solve: (Polynomial Float, Float) -> List Equation Polynomial Float}. 
However, it has 

{\tt solve: Polynomial Float->List Equation Fraction Polynomial Float}

and {\tt solve: (Polynomial Fraction Integer, Float) -> List Equation 
Polynomial Float)}.

\begin{axiom}
solve(x+1.1)
solve(x+11/10,0.1)
solve(x+ 11/10,0.0001)
solve(x+11/10,0.0000000000000000001)
\end{axiom}

One should be careful interpreting these results.  The second one solves it to 
5 binary digit accuracy (closest binary to 0.1 (decimal) is 1/16+1/32 = 
0.09375) hence the answer is not {\tt -1.1}. A similar loss happens in the 
third one. To obtain {\tt -1.1} as the solution, one needs much higher 
accuracy, as in the fourth one (that is the minimum needed).

--
forwarded from http://page.axiom-developer.org/zope/mathaction/address@hidden