Science: Electrical Brain

In studying the behavior of complex electrical systems, it is frequently desirable to solve algebraic equations of the seventh or eighth degree—that is, equations containing terms raised to the seventh or eighth power. It is impossible to obtain formal, exact solutions of equations higher than the fourth degree. Approximate numerical solutions of equations of the fifth degree and up can be arrived at by laborious trial & error, trying one value, then another, and so on until a value is found which approximately fits the mathematical statement.

Described last week in the Franklin...