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6-Contributor
September 4, 2025
Question

Solving for unknown variable

  • September 4, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 628 views

BV_10792443_0-1757014880458.png

Trying to Solve for Va as a variable.  Used "Solve, Va" and tried using the find (Va) function but it wont give me anything. 
Does anyone know any Tricks to this? 

4 replies

25-Diamond I
September 4, 2025

You should post your worksheet, not just a picture.

 

The picture shows that you are using the free but limited Prime Express version.

Neither the symbolic "solve" nor a solve block with "find" are available in this version.

You may try the "root" function - look it up in the help.

 

18-Opal
September 4, 2025

You have a picture where you have cut off the units of Q - this is the classic "makes it difficult when you don't have the full picture."

25-Diamond I
September 4, 2025

Actually the unit of Q does not matter when the question is just about solving the equation. The unit of the solution Va is unit_of_Q/m^2.

 

Its quite likely that Q is volumetric flow rate with unit m^3/s and so Va ends up as velocity (e.g. unit m/s)

 

The equation in question is quadratic, so we have to expect two solutions.

A plot can help to determine suitable guesses or ranges to be used in the "root" function.

This solution works OK in Prime Express

Werner_E_0-1757025892521.png

As can be seen neither f(V1) nor f(V2) are exactly zero but only close. This is due to numerical inaccuracy and round off errors we get when we use numeric methods working on variables stored in IEEE format.

 

18-Opal
September 4, 2025

ppal_0-1757028531113.png

 

25-Diamond I
September 4, 2025

As already written, from the picture sent by the OP he/she is using Prime Express and so can't use a solve block.

Furthermore its questionable where you get your guess values from - its guess and check as well and in that case its always a good idea to plot and look where the solutions are to be expected..

Only a symbolic solve would give you both solutions without having to know in which range to look for them.

But your approach getting both values in one go is possible to do in Express as well. The "root" command can be used with a vector as a guess as in your approach with the solve block and the "root" function can be vectorized.

18-Opal
September 4, 2025

I guess we could start from zero and  stop at the speed of light. Might cover the possibilities.

Community Manager
September 30, 2025

Hi @BV_10792443,

 

I wanted to see if you got the help you needed.

If so, please mark the appropriate reply as the Accepted Solution. It will help other members who may have the same question.
Of course, if you have more to share on your issue, please pursue the conversation. 

 

Thanks,
Anurag