calculator

Activity 1 Initialising your calculator

To set your calculatorto your default course settings, turn it on and enter two key sequences:

(CLR) (Setup) (Yes)

(SETUP) (Norm)

In the first key sequence, "CLR" (which is short for "clear') is the second function in the key and 'Setup' one of the names of the on-screen menu option corresponding to the number. 'Yes' is the name of the menu on the screen corresponding to key key. This keystroke clears the previous settings to the calculator.

in the next key sequence 'SETUP' is the name for the second function of the key and 'Norm' (short for 'normal') is the menu item that is associated with that function of the key. Pressing the key selects to use the 'Normal 2 mode', which will be described in more details in section 5.

Take note of the differences between 'SETUP', the additional function used by the key, and the menu option "Setup".

Your calculator is now working in 'Math' mode, with the words Math will appear on the right-hand display at the top of the calculator display, as illustrated in Figure 4. Math mode is the best method of using your calculator during this course as it allows mathematics to be filled in and displayed in a similar manner to the way you write it down on paper.Figure 4 Math mode

1.1 Basic calculations

The most basic calculationsare entered by entering them into the calculator in exactly the same order as they are written on paper, as shown in the next exercise. The calculator displays the calculation that you enter. When you click the Enter button, the result is displayed at the bottom right corner of the screen.

Activity 2 Sums, variations, products, and products and

Make use of your calculator to figure out how to answer the following calculations.

Reveal answer

You may have noticed that in the first part (4) in the previous exercise the calculation was too long to fit on the calculator display. In these situations, the symbols ' ' or ' ' appear at the right or left of the display to indicate that there's more information to be found in the direction of. The information is visible by scrolling left and right using keys or keys that are located on the right and left side of the large cursor control (labelled with the word 'REPLAY') located under the calculator screen.

If you type a lengthy calculation inside your calculator it is possible to see the cursor (which is typically shown to be ' ') change to ' '. It means that you're allowed to write 10 characters more. If you have this problem, you should break your calculation into smaller portions.

The cursor flashes as a symbol indicating where the next entry inside the calculator will show up.

1.2 Decimals or fractions?

For Activity 1 you set up your calculator to operate in Math mode. When in this mode the result of the calculation isn't a full number, it is shown as a fraction for example , wherever possible.

To obtain the answer in decimal form, you'll need hold instead using the key. You can switch between the decimal and fractional results by pressing key key.

Remember, it is a good idea to ensure that your calculator should be operating in Math mode if Math is shown at the center of the calculator display. If your calculator is not using Math mode, repeat the steps in Activity 1.

Activity 3 Fractions and decimals

Make use of your calculator to determine in both fractional and decimal forms.Reveal answer

1.3 Powers

There are a variety of buttons on the calculatorthat allow users to do calculations using powers. For smaller powers like squares or cubes there are designated buttons for example, , which are placed in the function in the keypad. They are used similar to the way you write mathematics for instance, to enter a number, you need to press . The display will also show the maths in the same way as you would write it out on paper.

To calculate higher power such as , you need to make use of the more general power key . This can be used in a natural manner. When you want to access the key, you will need the key sequence . When you press the key it will open a small window displayed on the calculator display that displays the blinking cursor (' ') that allows for you to type in the power in the correct location. If you want to drag the cursor away from the box and back to the main display after the power has been entered by pressing the right arrow key located on the right side of the large cursor control button.Figure 5 The general power button function

Other models of calculator might have a button instead of and may not have specific keys. keys.

Activity 4 Calculating power

Calculate each of these using your calculator.

The answer is revealed

1.4 Making corrections

If you make mistake while entering a keystroke into the calculator If you make a mistake, you can use the editing facilities to correct your mistake.

And the keys on the large cursor control button. The keys on the large cursor control button enable you to move the cursor (shown on the screen by the symbol ' ') within a calculation on the calculator screen. It is then possible to insert characters in the area of the cursor with a press of the right buttons and objects to the left of the cursor's location can be deleted by pressing key mouse. This can happen either ahead of, or following the key has been press. If you want to re-evaluate an edit calculation just press anytime at any point.

In certain circumstances However, in some situations it could be easier to just delete what you've written and begin with the "all clear" button!

If an error of a significant magnitude is committed when entering an calculation into the calculator this could result in the calculation of the answer at all, as the calculation might not make mathematical sense. In these situations, a "Syntax Error' screen will appear like in Figure 6. The Syntax Error screen will give two options to you:

• Press to stop the calculation and clean the screen
• Press on either instead of to return to the wrong calculation with the editing cursor positioned at the location of error. The cursor is ready to allow a correction to be implemented.

Figure 6 Syntax Error

Other kinds of calculator errors you might be faced with include:

• "Math Error", when the calculation that you made makes mathematical sense but the result cannot be calculated, such as attempting subtracting zero or when the results are too large in size for the calculator to manage.
• "Stack Error"', which indicates that you're calculation is too complicated to be handled in one go - in such situations, you should break the calculation into a few simple ones.

Section 4 discusses ways you can accomplish this.

In these situations in these situations, the calculator will show the same display as of the Syntax Error, allowing you to either abandon or correct your calculation.