calculator

1. Initialising your calculator

To set the calculatorto use the standard course settings, turn it on and enter the following key sequences:

(CLR) (Setup) (Yes)

(SETUP) (Norm)

In the first key sequence, 'CLR' (which is short for "clear') is the second purpose on the key and 'Setup' is an acronym for the on-screen menu option that corresponds to this key. 'Yes' is the name of the option on screen for that button. This key sequence erases all previous 'setup' settings to the calculator.

When you press the 2nd key, "SETUP" is the title of the function 2 of key 2. key, and "Norm" (short for "normal") is the menu option for key 2. keys. By pressing the key, it switches to "Normal 2 mode'. This will be described in greater detail in the section 5.

Notice the distinction between 'SETUP', the second function of the key, and the menu option "Setup".

Your calculator will now function in 'Math' mode, as well as the term Math will appear near the right-hand side of the high-end of the calculator display, as seen in Figure 4. Math mode is the best mode to use your calculator for this lesson because it permits mathematics to be completed and displayed in the similar way to how you write it down on paper.Figure 4 Math mode

1.1 Basic calculations

Basic calculations are entered by entering them into the calculator in exactly the same order as they are written on paper, as shown in the following activity. The calculator displays the calculation that you enter. When you press , the answer is displayed to the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

Activity 2 Sums, distinctions products and products and

Make use of your calculator to calculate the solutions to the following calculations.

Get the answer

You might have noticed that in part (4) of the previous exercise it was apparent that there was a problem with the calculation was too long for the calculator display. When this happens it is possible that the symbols ' "'" or " ' ' appear at the top or bottom of the display to indicate there's more information in the direction of. This information can be seen by scrolling from left to right using keyboards and keys located at the left and right 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 in the future, you could be able to observe that the cursor (which is usually displayed with the letter ' ') change to ' '. This means that you're permitted to type 10 characters. If you experience this issue you need to break down your calculation into smaller chunks.

The cursor flashes as a symbol that indicates that the next number to type to the calculator will appear.

1.2 Decimals or fractions?

Then, in Activity 1 you set up your calculator to operate in Math mode. In this mode, if the outcome of an calculation is not a whole number, it is shown as a fraction such as , wherever possible.

For the answer to be displayed in decimal form, you need be pressing instead using the key. You can switch between the decimal and fractional outputs with your button.

Remember, this is the time to make sure that your calculator has entered Math mode if Math is visible at the top of the calculator display. If your calculator isn't set to Math mode, repeat the steps from Activity 1.

Activity 3 Fractions and decimals

Utilize your calculator to determine answers in decimal and fractional forms.Reveal the answer

1.3 Powers

There are many functions on this calculator that allow users to carry out calculations using powers. For smaller powers like cubes or squares, there are dedicated buttons, and the keys are found in the function key area of the keypad. They function similar to the way you write mathematics in the past, for example, to enter you would enter by pressing . The display also shows mathematics in the same way you would write it down on paper.

To calculate higher powers such as , you need to make use of the more general function key . This is utilized in a natural fashion. For entering the key, you will need your keystroke . Note that after you press the key the small square box appears visible in the calculator display, which displays the flashing cursor (' '), which enables that you enter power into the right spot. If you want to drag the cursor out of this box, and back to the main display line once the power has been entered when you press the right-arrow key at the right left-hand side of the cursor's control button.Figure 5 shows the general power button function

The other models calculator may include a button instead of and might not include particular keys and keys.

Activity 4 Calculating powers

Calculate each of the following with your calculator.

Answer the question

1.4 Making corrections

If you've made a mistake when entering a key sequence into the calculator, you can use editing tools to fix the error.

Keys keys on the large cursor control button. The key on the big cursor control button allow you to move the cursor (shown on the screen with the letters ' ') within the calculation on the calculator screen. Characters can then be inserted at the point of the cursor using the buttons and any items left of the cursor may be removed by pressing by pressing the mouse. It can be done immediately, or following that key is hit. For a re-evaluation of an edited calculation it is simply pressing on any time.

In some situations, however, it may be better to leave what you've written and begin again, by pressing the "all clear" option!

If a serious error is made while entering the calculation in the calculator and it is unable to allow the calculation of the answer at any time, because the calculation could not be mathematically logical. In such circumstances a 'Syntax Error' will be displayed as shown in Figure 6. The Syntax Error screen provides you two options:

• Click to end the calculation and clean the screen
• press the button to either and to return to the erroneous calculation by dragging the cursor placed in the area of the error. It is now in readiness for a correction be done.

Figure 6 Syntax Error

Other kinds of calculator error that you could come across include:

• 'Math Error', when the calculation you have entered is mathematically sound, but the result cannot be calculated. This could be the case for trying subtracting zero or when the result is too large for the calculator to process.
• 'Stack Error"," which means that the calculation is too complicated for the same go. In these situations, you should break the calculation into a series of simple ones.

Section 4 considers how you could go about this.

In these instances you will notice that the calculator will show a screen similar to that of the Syntax Error, allowing you to either change or abandon the calculation.