Why Does My Calculator Show an Error with Tanh of a Complex Number?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the difficulties encountered when attempting to compute the hyperbolic tangent (tanh) of a complex number using a Casio calculator. Participants explore the limitations of their calculators regarding complex number calculations and seek alternative methods for evaluating tanh with complex arguments.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reports receiving a math error when trying to compute tanh of a complex number using their Casio fx100ms calculator.
  • Another participant suggests that the calculator does not support complex number coefficients for hyperbolic functions, referencing the calculator's manual.
  • A participant expresses frustration over the calculator's limitations and inquires about alternative methods to compute tanh of a complex number.
  • Some participants propose using online tools like Google or Wolfram Alpha to evaluate tanh of complex numbers, providing examples of how to do so.
  • One participant mentions that the definition of tanh with complex arguments involves using the exponential function, which may complicate calculations.
  • A later reply suggests consulting a teacher about calculator limitations before an upcoming exam and mentions that other calculators, like the TI-83, may also have similar restrictions regarding complex numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that many calculators do not support complex number calculations for hyperbolic functions, but there is no consensus on the best alternative methods or calculators to use.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the capabilities of different calculators regarding complex number calculations, and there are references to specific models without definitive conclusions on their functionalities.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in computing hyperbolic functions of complex numbers, particularly students preparing for exams or those using specific calculator models.

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As the title shows, I want to do they hyperbolic tan of a complex number, using my calculator (casio fx100ms) but I keep getting a maths error, whether I do it using the tanh function or if I try the

(1-e^(-2x))/(1+e^(-2x))


Any help would be awesome. Thanks.
 
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jedishrfu said:
I think your calculator manual says that the calculator doesn't support the complex number coefficient mode for hyperbolic sinh, cosh, tanh and other select functions.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ttcjO3x9gBVXwPw&bvm=bv.69411363,d.cWc&cad=rja

Nooooo :(, thanks for looking into it mate, I thought it was just something I was doing wrong. Is there any way I can do it normally? like any way I can do it say like the hard way?
 
Use google, in the search box enter tanh(5i) as an example and google calculator will show the answer - 3.38051501 i
 
Dang calculators only support real numbers! (Well, most of 'em anyways)

Tanh(z) can be evaluated by using the definition of the tanh function with complex argument z,

tanh(z) = sinh(z) / cosh(z) = \frac{e^{z}-e^{-z}}{e^z+e^{-z}}

which is not as easy to calculate as it looks. See:

http://www.uni-graz.at/imawww/vqm/pages/complex/12_tanh.html

You can always use Wolfram Alpha to calculate a tanh(z) for a specific value of z
 
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SteamKing said:
Dang calculators only support real numbers! (Well, most of 'em anyways)

Tanh(z) can be evaluated by using the definition of the tanh function with complex argument z,

tanh(z) = sinh(z) / cosh(z) = \frac{e^{z}-e^{-z}}{e^z+e^{-z}}

which is not as easy to calculate as it looks. See:

http://www.uni-graz.at/imawww/vqm/pages/complex/12_tanh.html

You can always use Wolfram Alpha to calculate a tanh(z) for a specific value of z

Thanks mate, its actually on my formula sheet on my exam I got to take tomorrow, but if that's the case I really don't think I will be able to use it with only my calculator itself. Cheers though.
 
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Perhaps you should ask your teacher about it before the exam. You might need a better calculator TI-83 ? but not sure if it has the same limit or not.

CORRECTION:

http://tibasicdev.wikidot.com/tanh

TI caclculator doesn't support complex numbers with tanh either.
 

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