Hello! In the exercises listed on the software download section at the start of the course, the following is found:
For additional practice, try using IDLE to calculate:
....
34*x^2 + 68*x - 510
Recall:
a*x^2 + b*x + c
x1 = ( - b + sqrt ( b*b - 4*a*c ) ) / ( 2*a )

Perhaps I am missing instructions to define 'x', but if not then I am stuck!

Furthermore, entering '^' does something very different than express intent to use an exponent. 3^3, for example, causes python to print 0. 3^2, however, causes python to print 1. Any ideas?

Question

Hello! In the exercises listed on the software download section at the start of the course, the following is found: 
For additional practice, try using IDLE to calculate:
....
 34*x^2 + 68*x - 510
 Recall:
 a*x^2 + b*x + c
 x1 = ( - b + sqrt ( b*b - 4*a*c ) ) / ( 2*a )

Perhaps I am missing instructions to define 'x', but if not then I am stuck! 

Furthermore, entering '^' does something very different than express intent to use an exponent. 3^3, for example, causes python to print 0. 3^2, however, causes python to print 1. Any ideas?

anonymous · Answer

All square roots have a + and - square root. The equation above will give you one of those and in python exponentiation (^) is done by **. So, 2 squared is 2**2 and 2 cubed is 2 ** 3. Hope this helps. You can also check out this wiki article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadratic_equation

anonymous · Answer

Might wanna check this one as well: http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/5065c981e4b0f9e4be2832ed Please check existing posts that may answer your question!

anonymous · Answer

First of all, thank you both for info/advice. The only question I have left is regarding the course. Does the course's text refer to exponentiation via (^), or by **?

anonymous · Answer

Probably both depending on the context. If they are making a statement in a sentence or mathematical equation they will likely use '^'. However if they are demonstrating something in a piece of code they will use '**'