I just bought a scientific calculator, and there is a whole booklet of instructions. Are they that hard to use

Question

I am taking a hard math class this semester, and i bought one of those calculators that do algebra 1 and 2 and trig, statistics, etc.

I opened it and there is a booklet abut 1/2 an inch thick... is this calculator going to be really hard to use??

I need help.

Answer 1

You will certainly need to get to know how it works, and try things out. I find that for really basic arithmetic, a scientific calculator can sometimes be more trouble. % is a two key function for example.

On the other hand, a really basic calculator has only one memory, whereas a scientific has many. The question is, can you remember what you have put in each of the memories?

You may be surprised just how many brackets you have to use if you opt for bundling a long calculation up rather than doing individual parts and storing the results. You may find there are many functions on the calculator that you don't need.

To start with, try out simple calculations, and make sure you understand the priority of operations, which operators you press after entering the number, and which before.

If your booklet is anything like mine, it is written in several different languages all mixed up. This means there isn't really as much in it as you might initially think.

Answer 2

There are all kinds of scientific calculators.

If your course is still some time away, then do take the time to read the instructions and practice some of the examples. Better do it now 'cause when you need it for a test, it will be too late to learn that your new calculator does things differently than other calculators.

You need to get used to the way your calculator treats certain operations.

For example, in mine I can mix multiplications and additions, knowing that it will always do multiplications before additions.

If I want to do (2*3*4) + (5*6*7) (* means times), then I can punch it in directly without bothering with brackets.

However, if I want to do (2+3+4)*(5+6+7), I must do each bracket separately, then multiply the two sums (otherwise, the calculator will simply multiply the 4 by the 5, then add all the rest).

On some calculator, functions will only use the value being displayed. So I can multiply Sin(25)*Cos(30) by doing:

25 Sin * 30 Cos =
and I know that the cosine will only use the angle 30.

However, on other calculators, the value sin(25) will be multiplied by 30 BEFORE the function kicks in and it will give me, instead, the cosine of angle 12.6785.

I often need to work with radians and (sometimes) with grades, instead of degrees. I can set my calculator to treat angles as such. However, every time I 'clear' the display, the calculator resets itself to degrees. This is frustrating.

Same thing with the memory. I have calculators where the value in memory stays in there, even if I turn off the calculator and turn it on again. However, in the one in front of me, just pressing 'clear' not only clears the display, it also clears the memory (and return to degrees...).

They are not 'difficult' to use, but they can do some things a bit differently. Get some practice.

Answer 3

They are extremely useful. It would be worth learning all/most of the functions because I didn't read the booklet, I just taught myself the functions as I went along. I looked in the booklet a little while ago and found things I didn't know I could do like adding up fractions and simplifying them and it makes maths a lot easier.

Answer 4

The calculator will do many things that you will never want to do. Yes, they are hard. They are a total pain. Finding the stuff you need (not too much) among everything that is there is not easy, but fortunately, most of these books do tend to emphasize the commonly used things.

Answer 5

Not really. A calculator that does many things needs many instructions. Try out a few, after a while you will find out that most of the other instructions are variations on the ones that you try.

Answer 6

If it did, I doubt that anybody might examine it. If somebody did certainly examine it, they probably would not save on with it. Then that they had ask your self what went incorrect. lol I desire my mothers and fathers might have had a parenting preparation e-e book, ignore e-e book - they mandatory an entire e book! I ignore who stated it even however that's a great quote - "All animals different than guy understand that the cheif objective of life is to rejoice with it."

Answer 7

Did you install the correct software?

Don't worry, it's not hard to use. You'll find that your booklet is printed in 3 or 4 different languages, so it's not as long as it looks.

Answer 8

You'll only need a few of the many functions the calculator has. Just learn the stuff you'll need!

Answer 9

It is hard to try to remember the whole book at once but
just study the parts you will use most and it becomes manageable.

Answer 10

not really. its accually easier than a regular one because u can enter the whole problem instead of tryin 2 figure it out urself.