GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 130078
"y^x" button is really "x^y"
Last modified: 2004-12-22 21:47:04 UTC
This bug was originally reported in the Debian BTS: http://bugs.debian.org/223100 "The 'y^x' button on gcalctool, with tooltip "y to the power of displayed value", *actually* behaves like an 'x^y' button and calculates "the displayed value to the y power". For example, 2 y^x 5 = displays 32, not 25. I believe the current *functionality* is correct (that is, the most intuitive way to use the calculator is to read the expression in normal reading order), so it is the *label* (and tooltip) *not* the functionality, which should be changed. But one way or another they should be made consistent. Note that the other buttons reinforce the idea that 'x' is the "displayed value", which means 'y' should be the "value entered after the operator"; for example the "e^x", "10^x" and "x!" buttons operate immediately on the displayed value and have tooltips stating "e to the power of displayed value", "10 to the power of displayed value", and "factorial of displayed value". This just shows that it's not *just* the tooltip which is incorrect."
Adding Breda, my doc. person for her input. Breda, I think Sebastian has a good point here. I suggest that the label be changed to "x^y" (really x superscript y), and the tooltip be changed to "x to the power of displayed value". Agreed?
Hi Rich, I agree that the button text should be changed to x^y. However, I think that the tooltip text should be changed to "Raise displayed value to the power of the next number that you enter" or "Raise displayed value to the power of y" if you think that the first example above is too verbose. The current description in the help text is correct: "Raises the current value in the display area to the power of the next value that you enter." so I'll just change the button name when you make this change. Thanks for consulting me :) Breda.
Changes checked into CVS HEAD. Fixed in gcalctool v4.3.37. I used the less verbose tooltip message that you suggested. Thanks.