Tips for using your calculators



Tips for using your calculators.

There are two types of calculator. The common calculator completes operations and functions as they are entered. Some calculations are done immediately, some are only done when the "=" button is pressed. The display calculator allows you to input more than one operation/function which appear in the display of the calculator. This calculator will only complete a calculation when the "enter" button is pressed.

Most of the work in this module is done on your calculator. You need to be able to insert values into a formula and use your calculator to get an answer. Many of the calculations use the four operations but there are three additional functions that you have to learn how to use. A button on your calculator is indicated by a border:

1) You have to learn how to make a calculation with any exponent. This topic was introduced in Module 2.

|Common Calculator |Display Calculator |

|The button on the calculator has either of the following symbols |The button on the calculator has this symbol on it: ^ |

|on it: xy or yx | |

| |3.75 would be calculated as follows: |

|3.75 would be calculated as follows: | |

| |Enter 3> ^ >.75 and press Enter. |

|Enter: 3> xy >.75 | |

| |Display will read: 2.279507057 |

|Press = >Display will read: 2.279507057 | |

|This type of calculation is used in most of the formulas in this module. |

| |

|In the compound interest formulas: |

|[pic] [pic] [pic] |

|In the annuity formulas: |

| |

|[pic] [pic] |

|In the calculating debt formula: |

| |

|[pic] |

|Almost every formula has this element: (1 + I/n)Yn. On the common calculator, you must simplify the parenthesis and calculate the |

|exponent before using the exponent key as described above. The display calculator will allow you to enter all of these operations |

|at one time. |

| |

|Try this: |

|[pic] |

2) You should learn how to change division to multiplication on the calculator. This will save you several steps and allow you to do most of your work on the calculator. This saves you from possible errors in writing values down correctly and rounding numbers.

|The button is the same for both calculators. The symbol is either 1/x or x-1 .This function is really useful when there is a |

|fraction for an exponent. |

| |

|This is a really useful function when using a formula like: [pic] |

|Common Calculator |Display Calculator |

| | |

|Solve the following problem by multiplying: [pic] |Solve the following problem by multiplying: [pic] |

| | |

|Simplify the denominator first. |Simplify the denominator first. |

| | |

|You should be able to figure this part out on the calculator: |You should be able to figure this part out on the calculator: |

| | |

|1 - 1.0005678 = .0005678 and |Enter: 5(1 - 1.0005678) > ENTER |

| | |

|5(.0005678) = .002839 |Display reads: .002839 |

| | |

|Leave this final answer on the calculator and press the 1/x or|Enter: x-1 |

|x-1 button. | |

| |Display reads: Ans -1 Press ENTER |

|The Display should now read: 352.236703 | |

| |Display reads: 352.236703 |

|Now you can multiply by the 3500 in the numerator to get: | |

|1,232,828.461 |Now you can multiply by the 3500 in the numerator to get: |

| |1,232,828.461 |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|Solve the following problem by multiplying: |Solve the following problem by multiplying: |

| | |

|[pic] |[pic] |

|On the calulator simplify the denominator: |On the calulator simplify the denominator: |

|Calculate the exponent: 6(365) = 2190 | |

|Enter: .055> ( >365> = |Enter: (1 + .055/365)^(6*365)> ENTER |

| | |

|Display Reads: .0001506849 |Display reads: 1.390933549 |

| | |

|Enter: + > 1 |Press: x-1 |

| | |

|Display Reads: 1.0001506849 |Display reads: Ans -1 |

| | |

|Enter: xy or yx > 2190 > = |Press: ENTER |

| | |

|Display reads: 1.390933549 |Display reads: .7189416065 |

| | |

|(This is the number in the denominator. Change the division to |Multiply by 1000 to finish the problem. |

|multiplication by using the 1/x or x-1 button.) | |

| | |

|Enter: 1/x | |

|Display reads: .7189416065 | |

| | |

|Multiply by 1000 to finish the problem. | |

|This is also very useful when using the following formula: [pic] |

|As you can see, this exponent is a fraction but it is easily converted by the 1/x or x-1 button. |

| |

|Simplify: [pic] |

|Common Calculator |Display Calculator |

|Enter: 6 ( 365 Display reads: 2190 |Enter: 2000 ( 500 > ENTER |

| |Display reads: 4 |

|Enter: 2000 ( 500 Display reads: 4 | |

| |Enter: ^ > (6*365) > x-1 |

|Enter: xy > 2190 > 1/x | |

| |Display reads: Ans ^(6*365)-1 |

|Display reads: .000456621 | |

| |Press: ENTER |

|Press: = Display reads: 1.000633212 | |

| |Display reads: 1.000633212 |

|Done. | |

3) You have to be able to calculate a logarithm on a few of the problems. A "log" is just an exponent and for you, it is just a button to push on your calculator.

|Common Calculator |Display Calculator |

|Press the log button after you enter the number that follows to |Press the log button before you enter the number or group that |

|the right of "log" in the formula. |follows to the right of "log" in the formula. |

| | |

|You have to simplify anything in these parenthesis as usual. |You can enter the entire expression on the display calculator. |

|There are two formulas in Module 8 that use the "log" function. |

| |

|For the annuity we have [pic]. |

| |

|For Compound Interest we have: [pic] |

| |

|Please note that the log is used in the formulas to find Y which is an exponent in both formulas. These formulas are used to answer|

|the question, "How long....". |

| |

|Find: [pic] |

|Simplify the parenthesis: |Enter: log > (1 + .065/365) |

| | |

|Enter: .065/365 > = > + 1 |Display reads: log(1+.065/365) |

| | |

|Display reads: 1.000178082 |Press: ENTER |

| | |

|Press: log |Display reads: 7.733322759 E -5 |

| | |

|Display reads: .00007733322 | |

Many times you will get a strange looking notation on your calculator. A negative number will show up in the corner of your display and this usually happens when your working with a really small number. This is how the calculator displays scientific notation. You don't really have to know how to use this. Yoou can usually perform the very next operation and get the number back into the range where it will look normal again on your display.

Practice the smaller parts of the formulas to get used to using your calculator.

Good Luck.

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