At 08:21 AM 8/17/2011, Forrest Christian wrote:
>Every time I go through a stage of intense R&D (like I'm dealing with
>right now), I get generally frustrated with a lack of a calculator which
>actually does the stuff I need it to do without a lot of work.

Besides using my trusty HP RPN hand-held calculators, I currently use=20
Calc98, eCalc, Excalibur on my computer.  I do miss my trusty HP45=20
(it finally died) but the '49 and '50 have replaced it.  I just=20
haven't learned all of the new features yet.

If I have serious if-then type calculations, I use TK Solver from=20
UTS.  It is by far the best investment that I have ever made for that=20
type of software.

I started out with a free version of TK Solver called 'Mini-TK' which=20
might still be available from UTS.  Its pretty much identical to its=20
paid-for version, but limited to 20 each of rules and variables.  A=20
rule is an equation that helps describe the desired result - you list=20
the rules however you see fit.  TK then solves all of those rules.

The 20 rule limit was never a problem for me when I was using the=20
free version but the paid-for version adds in tables, which makes=20
interpolation between data points much easier to do.  That one=20
feature was worth the cost of the software.

What I like so much about TK Solver is that I don't have to write the=20
equations such that the unknowns are on one end of the=20
equation.  Just write the equations however you like, sticking the=20
unknown variable(s) wherever it makes sense to do so.

I've done some fairly serious R&D that simply would not have been=20
possible (for me) to do without TK Solver.

You can read all about it at <www.uts.com/> .  Typing "TK Solver"=20
into Google brings up all kinds of documentation, including youtube=20
how-to videos.

dwayne

--=20
Dwayne Reid   <dwayner@planet.eon.net>
Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd    Edmonton, AB, CANADA
(780) 489-3199 voice          (780) 487-6397 fax
www.trinity-electronics.com
Custom Electronics Design and Manufacturing

--=20
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