Are calculators ever wrong? Is there 1 in a trillion chance it comes out wrong if it is not broke?

Question

What is the scientific reason for this?

i don't mean a systematic error. I mean random error in a non broken calculator. Dust, force on keypad, air changes are allowed given reasonable circumstances.

Answer 1

any failure would likely cascade and produce garbage on the screen. Since the units are preprogrammed at the factory, any flaws, such as the flaw in the early Pentium Chips from Intel, would be permanent and would show itself. If a single transistor in a calculator failed, the unit would likely not work properly at all.
As for chances of an error -- only static electrical interference, or turning off and on the uint with an impact to momentarily disconnect the batteries, etc. could produce something abnormal under ordinary use adn again, you would probably see garbage on the screen although, here, in this instance, probability enters, and you might see something incorrect that looked normal..

Dont forget, that in using a calculator, all the answers are rounded off internally, and in long decimal places, ALL answers are wrong, and if you do a long chain equation, the answer at the end may be WAY off, depending on how the rounded off numbers are accessed and used in the equation... You can do a number of deliberate equations which are designed to show off the round off errors, and like the 0=1 answer mentioned above, you can see the results clearly...

Answer 2

Depends on the kind of calculator. I think it's very unlikely in a standard 4-function calculator. However, in a graphing calculator or financial calculator, some of the more complex functions are numerical approximations. When the batteries of a calculator are low, these approximation functions can be less exact, which would result in errors.

Answer 3

Ever try to express an irrational number on a calculator? They have their limits - they can't perform all mathematical operations due to the way binary electronics works.

Answer 4

Although not likely, a transistor or Integrated Circuit can fail causing an error.

Answer 5

yes, i actually used to know a formula, that made 1=0 in any calculator, it worked on computers too... i can't remember it now, but it's a mathematical flaw that is taught in applied mathematics

Answer 6

You've already answered your question. If it's not broke, don't fix it, because all of the answers will be correct.

Answer 7

If there was a chance, I would never know.

Answer 8

yes, and more likely we put in the wrong info.

Answer 9

i doubt it