scientific and graphing calculators

Calculator

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Calculators calculatoris an instrument used to perform calculations. Modern calculators typically incorporate general-purpose computing, however they're usually designed to perform specific tasks. For instance, graphing calculators focus on graph-centered math, like trigonometry and statistics. Additionally modern calculators tend to be smaller in size than computers generally however some personal digital aids (PDAs) are comparable in size to hand-held calculators.

Because calculatorsare small and are not likely to be used in the near future, devices smaller than credit cards could perform the similar calculations that are used in larger scientific calculators. Another possibility is similar with a laptop computer, with the difference that the numbers aren't inputted via buttons, but are written on a screen. This way, the requirement for buttons will be removed , and the size of the device would be diminished.

Overview

The past was when mechanical clerical tools such as comptometers, abaci, Napier's bones, mathematical books Tables, Slide Rules or mechanical adders were utilized to carry out numeric calculations. The term "calculator" denoted a person who worked to earn a living using such tools as well as the pencil or the paper. The semi-manual method of calculation was time-consuming and error-prone.

Modern calculators are powered by electricity and are available in a variety of sizes and shapes ranging from cheap, giveaway credit card-sized models to sturdy models that have built-in printers.

Electronic calculators

In the past, calculators were larger than the ones we use in the present. These were among the first desktop computers that were mechanical that were later substituted by electronic desktop calculators and later by electronic devices that used first thermionic devices, later transistors, and then finally hard-wired connected circuits. Nowadays, the majority of calculators are handheld microelectronic devices.

Basic configuration

The level of sophistication of calculators depends on their intended use. A basic , modern calculator could comprise of the following components:

• An energy source for instance, a battery, solar panel, or both.
• Displays are made using LED lighting as well as Liquid Crystal (LCD) capable of displaying a variety of numerals (typically between 8 and 10)
• Electronic circuitry
• Keypads that include:
  • The ten digits of 0 through 9
  • The decimal point
  • The equals sign can be used to inquire about the answer.
  • The four Arithmetic functions (namely division, subtraction, multiplication and subtraction)
  • A cancel button that will end the current calculation
  • For turning off and switch on to turn off or on, press the buttons.
  • Other important functions include square root, for instance as well as percent (%).
• The higher-end models might have an in-built number memory, that can be saved in the event of a need. Additionally, there may be a Cancel Entry button to eliminate the numbers that are currently entered.

Since the late 1980s, basic calculators were incorporated into smaller devices like cellphones, smartphones, or wrist watches.

Electronic calculators equipped with the latest technology

Advanced scientific calculators include trigonometric, statistical and mathematical functions. Modern, highly sophisticated calculators can display graphics and incorporate the features of algebra systems for computers. They can also be programmed. calculator applications include solvers for algebraic equations, financial models and games. A lot of calculators that are this type can print numbers as big as 10 decimal places , or numbers completely on the screen. Scientific notation is used to record numbers up to 9.999999999*10 ⁹⁹. If the number is larger or mathematical formula yields more than the one you entered (a typical example would be entering "100! ", read as "100 factorial") then the calculator simply displays "error."

"Error" is also displayed when a function or operation is not mathematically defined like division by zero or even the roots of positive numbers (most scientific calculators don't support complex numbers, although certain expensive models do come with additional functions to work with complicated numbers). Some, but definitely none of the calculators are able to detect these two types of "error," though when they do, they're not always simple for users to comprehend since they're typically referred to by the terms "error 1" or "error 2."

A few companies create and manufacture modern professional engineering and financial calculators The most well-known include Casio, Sharp, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Texas Instruments (TI). These calculators are excellent models of embedded technology.