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Re: How to force numeric output

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg115600] Re: How to force numeric output
• From: Bill Rowe <readnews at sbcglobal.net>
• Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:51:51 -0500 (EST)

On 1/15/11 at 4:45 AM, ramsey2879 at msn.com (KenR) wrote:

>I am new to Mathematica and cant seem to get it to give a numeric
>answer to

>input    y = 5; x = floor[sqrt[y+1.0]]; x.

>instead of a numeric it gives "out floor[sqrt[6.0]]"

>what am I doing wrong?

All built-in functions in Mathematica begin with an uppercase
letter. So, anything you enter that begins with lowercase letter
will be something *you* have to define before Mathematica can do
anything other that take it to be an arbitrary symbol or
function. So, try

  y = 5; x = Floor[Sqrt[y+1.0]]