calculator

1. Initialising the calculator

To start setting your calculator to use the standard settings for courses, turn on the calculator and then enter the following key sequences:

(CLR) (Setup) (Yes)

(SETUP) (Norm)

Note that in the first key sequence, "CLR" (which is short for 'clear') is the second purpose on the key and 'Setup' it's name for an menu option that corresponds to the key. 'Yes' is the name of the menu on the screen corresponding to this button. This key sequence removes any previous settings for'setup' of the calculator.

The second sequence of keys "SETUP" is the title for the second function of the key and 'Norm' (short for 'normal') is the menu option for key 2. keys. By pressing the key, it switches to the 'Normal 2' mode, which will be explained in greater detail in section 5.

Be aware of the difference between 'SETUP' which is the second function of the key as well as the menu option "Setup".

Your calculator will now function in Math mode as well as the term Math will be displayed near the right side of the top of the calculator display as shown in Figure 4 below. It is the ideal way of using your calculator throughout this course since it lets mathematics be input and displayed in a similar manner to the way you would write it on paper.Figure 4 'Math' mode

1.1 Basic calculations

Fundamental calculationsare entered by entering them into the calculator in exactly the same format as they're written on paper, as shown in the following activity. The calculator will display the calculation you input. When you click the Enter button, the result is displayed at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

Activity 2 Sums, differences products and Q quotients

Make use of your calculator to work out the results of the following calculations.

Reveal answer

It is possible that in the fourth part (4) in the previous task, it was apparent that the calculation was too large to fit on the calculator display. In such circumstances, the symbols ' "' and " ' are displayed to the right or left of the screen to indicate that there's more information to be found in that direction. This information is accessible by scrolling left and right using keyboards or keys that are located on the left and right side of the large control button for cursors (labelled with the word 'REPLAY') located under the calculator screen.

If you are typing a lengthy calculation in your calculator in the future, you could notice the cursor (which is typically shown in the form of ' ') change to ' '. This means that you're allowed to type only 10 characters more. If you encounter this that happens, you should break up your calculation into smaller portions.

The cursor will flash a symbol indicating that the next number to type into the calculator will appear.

1.2 Fractions or decimals?

When you are in Activity 1 you set up your calculator to use Math mode. When in this mode the outcome of the calculation is not a complete number, it will be displayed as a fraction, like whenever it is possible.

If you want to get the answer in decimal form, press push instead of the key, or you can toggle between the decimal and fractional outputs using key number key.

Be sure to ensure that the calculator can be set to Math mode if the word Math is visible at the upper right of your calculator display. If your calculator isn't in Math mode, repeat the steps of Activity 1.

Activity 3 Fractions and Decimals

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

1.3 Powers

There are many buttons on the calculatorthat enable users to carry out calculations that require power. For small powers such as cubes and squares, there are specific buttons as well keys that are situated in the function part of the keypad. They function in the same way as the way you write mathematics in the past, for example, to enter, you need to hit . The display will also show mathematics in the same manner as you write it on paper.

To calculate higher powers such as , you'll need to make use of the more general Power key . This can be used in a natural fashion. For entering the power, you must use the key sequence . When you press the key there is a small circle shown on the calculator display with a flashing cursor (' '), which enables for you to type in the power in the correct spot. For the ability to move your cursor off of this box and to return to the main display once the power has been entered when you press the right-arrow key located on the right end of the larger cursor control button.Figure 5: The general function of the power key

Different models of calculator may have the button instead of and also may not come with particular keys and keys.

Activity 4 Calculating powers

Calculate each of the following with your calculator.

Get the answer

1.4 Making corrections

If you make an error when entering a keystroke in the calculator If you make a mistake, you can use editing tools to fix your mistake.

The as well as the keyboards on the cursor control buttons enable you to move the cursor (shown on the screen with the letters ' ') within a calculation on the calculator screen. Characters can then be inserted at the cursor location simply using the buttons, and the items on the left of it can be removed using the keyboard. It is possible to do this either prior to or after it has been key has been pressed. To revisit an edited calculation it is simply pressing at any point.

In certain instances but, it may be better to leave what you've written and start with the 'all clear' button!

If a serious error is made when entering an calculation in the calculator the error could prevent the calculation of the answer at any point, since the calculation may not make sense mathematically. In this case, a 'Syntax Error' will be displayed as illustrated in Figure 6. The Syntax Error screen will give you two options:

• Click to quit the calculation and clear the screen.
• Click for either the button to either to return to the incorrect calculation by dragging the cursor placed at the point of error. The cursor is ready for corrections to be implemented.

Figure 6 Syntax Error

Other kinds of calculator error that you may be faced with include:

• "Math Error", when the calculation that you made seems mathematically correct, but the result cannot be calculated, like attempting to divide by zero, or if the result is too big to the calculator to handle.
• 'Stack Error"," which means that the calculation is too complex to be dealt with in all at once - in these situations, you should break the calculation into a number of smaller ones.

Section 4 examines the ways in which you could go about this.

In these situations, the calculator will display the same type of screen to the Syntax Error, allowing you to choose to abandon or rectify the calculation.