how do you find decimal exponents by hand?

rainypickles

Senior member
Dec 7, 2001
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i know how to do things like 27^(2/3).

what about something like 10^.23? with basic arithmetic, is it possible?

the best i could come up with is to find the 100th root of 10 by trial and error (guess 1.05, multply it 100 times, revise guess, repeat), and then multiply that 23 times.

is this possible to do with basic arithemetic? is there an algorithm for this?

is there an advanced mathematical way to do it?

of course, no calculators. no log tables either, because i was wondering how they came up with the log tables.

thanks (and i didnt know where to post this).
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
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This is why God invented slide rules.

Log tables: google can of course tell you how they were created.
 

Spencer278

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 2002
3,637
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I think the only way is to use a trial and error method most likely using netwon's method.
 

Colt45

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
19,720
1
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I think trial and error is the only way. thats why they invented the slide rule and the calculator