Pythagorean theorem in equations

I am trying to calculate the Pythagorean theorem in an equation. But,
I have never used the exponential function, and am having problems
getting it to work.

Basically, I am just unsure of the correct syntax for the exponential
function. I think once I figure that out, I can get it to work,
maybe.

The equation (in layman's terms) that I need to use is: X=sqr(A^2 +
B^2) where A & B are the known values. But, when using the
exponential function, I don't know where or how to tell it to raise to
the 2nd power, in the syntax. The help doesn't help any either.

What I have currently is "D1@Sketch1" = sqr(exp("D2@Sketch1") +
exp("D3@Sketch1")). What is the correct syntax to tell it that the
exponential is the power of 2? Or am I just completely off-base to
begin with????

Thanks,
Seth

 

Not really the answer, but from my old days in Fortran, I would simply write
"D2@Sketch1"*"D2@Sketch1" for "D2@Sketch1"^2

HIH
JM

 

Seth,

exp("D3@Sketch1") is e^"D3@Sketch1"

You need something like hyp=sqr("D3@Sketch1"^2+"D3@Sketch2"^2)

SW Equations use VBA functions, operators and syntax, so you can look up
more in the macro editor's help.

 

Dale,

OK, that works. Thank you.

Basically, this is not using the built in SW exponential function
syntax. It is using a more conventional syntax. This does make it
much more simple. But, just out of curiousity, what would the correct
syntax be if you really wanted to use the built in SW exponential
function? I know nothing about VBA...

Seth

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "built in exponential function". Syntax in
the dimension modify box? Anyhow, for equations VBA *is* the built-in
function, with all the same limitations and capabilities: one-line IF
functions, random number functions (fun!), and some trig functions missing
(use trig identities to get cotangent, etc.)

Way back in 2000 (I think), they was a bug where you could see the
mechanism for this under certain circumstances. Basically, the SW equations
seemed to be translated into VBA statements for evaluation.

 

What I mean by the built in function is:

When you use the Add Equation dialog box and click the exponential
button, SW puts in " exp( ) " and then needs more information. It
needs the dimension you want to raise, and the power you want to raise
that dimension to. My question is what would the syntax be to enter
this missing information, using this "built-in" button?

Maybe its just me thats not understanding something correctly... I'm
not dumb by no means. But, I am not a math wiz either.....

Seth

 

I see. The problem isn't density, maybe tunnel vision. I know both very
well. The equation editor has both the exponential funtion (e^x) and
exponentiation (x^y). The "^" is down in the RH corner. You want to use an
exponent (2) to square a quantity. "Exponential function" is the inverse of
the natural log, which you don't want.

 

The "exp()" function is simply the WRONG function to use. "exp(n)"
raises "e" to the "n" power (e=2.7818281828...).

The caret "^" is used to raise to a power. Since you are only
squaring, you can also simply multiply the number by itself.

There is a square root function, "sqr()". You can also get square
root by raising to power of 0.5 (i.e. "n ^ 0.5")

 

Whowa.... Yep, I was way off base with this one...
Never noticed the "^" in the RH corner....

Thanks for all your help, and tolerating my stupidity... : )

Seth

 

In layman's terms you could just do A*A + B*B I suppose ....
You don't really want base e functions or natural logarithms,
do you?