Scientific Calculator Help
As you would expect, you use the calculator just as you would a real pocket calculator. Space is at a premium, so many of the calculator buttons have to double up the functions they provide. The layout of the calculator in its normal state has the functions you would expect to see on a fairly standard scientific calculator, which means that it is probably self-explanatory. Notice the shift button in the top left-hand corner.
To enter a number in exponential format, enter the mantissa, followed by the EXP key, then the exponent. To use the arithmetic functions, click their buttons. If the function is unary (i.e. acts on one number, e.g. 1/x) the display is updated to the result. If the function is binary (e.g. +, -, X etc.) enter the second number and click = or another arithmetic key.
The functions of the buttons in their shifted state are not marked on the calculator body, but the buttons change when you press the shift button. If you press the shift button again, the buttons revert to their un-shifted state.
AC - All Clear
Clears the calculator, and resets any functions. The contents of the memory are not affected by AC. The memory can be cleared after pressing AC by pressing Min.
C - Clear
The C button erases the last number or operation entered.
+ - Addition
The + button performs addition.
- - Minus
The - button performs subtraction.
/ - Divide
The / button performs division.
X - Multiply
The X button performs multiplication.
= - Equals
The = button displays the result of an arithmetic operation. It can be used during a calculation to ensure that an intermediate result has been evaluated. Unless the = button is pressed, it is possible that an operation is incomplete - pressing = ensures that no arithmetic operations are pending.
% - Percent key
The % button (shifted = or Enter button) displays the result of an arithmetic operation as a percentage.
Example:
Calculate five sixteenths as a percentage.
5 / 1 6 shift %
Result: 31.25%
pi - Pi key
The pi button (shifted Exp button) displays the value of pi (the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter).
M+ - Memory Plus
Pressing the mplus button adds the number displayed to the contents of the memory.
Min - Memory Input
Press the min button to enter the currently displayed number into the memory. The memory can be cleared after pressing AC and then pressing Min.
MR - Memory Recall
Pressing the MR button brings the contents of the memory into the display.
EXP - Exponent
Use the EXP button to enter a number in exponential form.
Example:
To enter the number 1.234 x 10^6 (1.234E6) press the following buttons:
1 . 2 3 4 EXP 6
shift - Shift
Use the shift to access additional functions. The functions available are indicated by changes to the legends on the calculator buttons.
Errors
If you get an error, the calculator display will contain an appropriate message, and possibly some further descriptive information. In the case of certain errors, the calculator functions are disabled and you need to press the AC button to clear the error.
1/x - Reciprocal
The 1/x button computes the reciprocal of the number currently displayed.
2/x - Square Root
This button computes the square root of the number currently displayed.
x2 - Square
The x2 button computes the square of the number currently displayed.
log - Logarithm to base 10
The log button computes the logarithm to base 10 of the number currently displayed.
ln - Natural Logarithm
The ln button computes the natural logarithm (logarithm to base e) of the number currently displayed.
xa - X to the Power of a
The xa button computes X to the power of a.
Example:
Calculate 5 raised to the power of 6.
5 xa 6 =
Result: 15625.
x1/a - ath Root of X
The x1/a button computes the ath root of X (i.e. X to the power of the reciprocal of a).
Example:
Calculate the cube root of two:
2 x1/a 3 =
Result: 1.259921004989
rand - Random Number
The rand button is used to generate a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1.
hyp - Hyperbolic
The hyp button is used to select hyperbolic functions and inverse hyperbolic functions. Clicking the hyp button causes the legends of the sin, cos and tan to change to sinh, cosh and tanh.
Pressing shift either before or after the hyp causes the inverse hyperbolic functions to be displayed: invsinh, invcosh and invtanh.
Example:
Compute the hyperbolic sin of 1.0
1 hyp sinh
Result: 1.175201193643801
sin - Sine
The sin button computes the sine of an angle.
asin - Inverse Sine
The asin button computes the angle for which the sine is the value entered.
cos - Cosine
The cos button computes the cosine of an angle.
acos - Inverse Cosine
The acos button computes the angle for which the cosine is the value entered.
tan - Tangent
The tan button computes the tangent of an angle.
atan - Inverse Tangent
The atan button computes the angle for which the tangent is the value entered.
x! - Factorial
The factorial button computes the factorial of an integer number. If the current number displayed is not an integer, an error message is produced.
10x - Inverse Logarithm
The 10x button computes 10 raised to the power of the current number, giving the inverse logarithm.
ex - Inverse Natural Logarithm
The ex button computes the value of e raised to the power of the current number (exponential function or inverse of natural logarithm).
+/- - Sign
The sign button changes the sign of the number currently displayed.
< - Backspace
Use the < button to remove the most recently entered numbers, digit by digit.
To remove the whole of an entry, use C (Clear entry).
( - Left Parentheses
The ( and ) buttons are used to enforce the order of evaluation of an expression. For example, the expression 1 + 2 X 3 would be evaluated as 7.
To force the calculator to evaluate a particular expression first, use parentheses (brackets). For example, evaluating (1 + 2) X 3 gives the result 9.
) - Right Parenthesis
Closes a level of parentheses.