3.1 The Fundamentals

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3.1.1 Basic Operations

Scilab example,

3.1.2 Exponents

The basic properties of exponents are so important they demand some sort of mention

Scilab example,

3.1.3 Basic Polynomials

The quadratic equation.

e.g.,

Complex roots will occur when,

Cubic equations can be solved explicitly, although this is too much for common memorization.

On a few occasions a quartic (4th order) equation will also have to be solved. This can be done by first reducing the equation to a quadratic,

In Scilab,