Electromagnetic Wave Prob. (Is this a typo/error?)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a potential error in the solution to an electromagnetic wave problem from a textbook. The original poster questions the accuracy of the solution, highlighting a mathematical mistake regarding the modulus being 'a'. Participants note that such errors are common in textbooks, often attributed to authors or their graduate students. The conversation emphasizes the prevalence of typos in academic materials. Overall, the thread reflects on the reliability of textbook solutions in the context of electromagnetic theory.
WolfOfTheSteps
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Electromagnetic Wave Prob. (Is this a typo/error??)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/4536/errorko2.th.jpg

This is the book's solution to an E&M problem. I typed in the part that is enclosed by a red box.

Am I not correct, and the "official" solution is wrong?!?

It's basically a math error, but I can't believe they made it.
 
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Yes, the modulus is clearly 'a'. Who is 'they'?
 
Dick said:
Yes, the modulus is clearly 'a'. Who is 'they'?

The book's author! :eek: (I should have said "he")
 
Last edited:
Wolf of the Ste said:
The book's author! :eek: (I should have said "he")

It's not necessarily the books author that writes the solutions-- it was probably one of his grad students! Anyway, books have loads of typos in; it's nothing new!
 

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