When using the calculator for the first time, all the buttons and options may seem confusing. However, the standard calculator or science calculator, the basic use of these two tools is actually the same. Once you know what each button does and how to use it to calculate, you'll feel comfortable using the calculator whenever you need it – whether in or out of class!
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Method 1 of 2: Learning the Basic Calculator Functions
Step 1. Look for the power button if it is there
While most modern calculators are powered by sunlight – this means that the light will turn on the device automatically – some are equipped with an “ON” and/or “ON/OFF” switch. If so, press the button to turn your calculator on or off.
- If the calculator has an “ON” button, press the button while the calculator is still on to turn it off.
- Some calculators will turn off automatically after a few minutes of not being used.
Step 2. Make additions with the “+” button
Press the "+" button between two numbers to perform addition. For example, to add 5 and 10, press "5," "+," and "10".
Add another number to the calculation result. For example, press "+" and "5" to add another number to the result of the "5 + 10" calculation. When you want to know the answer, press the "=" button to get the result of the calculation, which is "20"
Step 3. Perform subtraction by pressing the “-” button
Press the "-" button between two numbers to subtract the first number by the second number. For example, press "7," "-," and "5" to subtract 7 by 5, then press the "=" key to get the answer, which is "2".
- Perform additional subtraction by entering another number. For example, press "-" and "2" to subtract the result from the calculation "2 – 7", then press "=" to get the answer, which is "0".
- Try performing the subtraction operation after you've done the addition.
Step 4. Perform division or convert fraction to decimal value with "÷" or "/" key
For example, to divide 2 by 1, press "2," "÷," and "1", then press "=". To convert the fraction 4/5 to a decimal number, press "4, " "/," "5," then press "=".
- If you're using a physical calculator, the division key usually has the "÷" symbol. For calculations via a computer, the divider key usually uses the "/" symbol.
- Perform a series of number divisions by pressing the "÷" or "/" key followed by a number. For example, if the calculator performs the operation "2 1”, press "÷," "2," then press "=" to see the result, which is "1".
Step 5. Multiply the number by the "x" or "*" keys
For example, to multiply 6 by 5, press "6," "x," "5," then press "=". The answer is "30".
- Physical calculators usually use an "x" as the multiplication symbol, while computer calculators use an "*" symbol.
- Create a series of multiplications by pressing the "x" or "*" key followed by a number. For example, if the calculator is calculating "6 x 5," press "x," "2," and "=" to get the answer, which is "60".
Step 6. Press "=" button to get the calculation result
After entering numbers and calculation operations, such as addition or subtraction, press the "=" key to get the answer. For example, press "10," "+," "10," and "=" to get the result of the calculation, which is "20".
Remember that you can change the calculation without deleting anything after pressing the "=" button by simply pressing the /→ buttons. So double check the numbers you entered
Step 7. Clear the calculator memory with the “Clear” or “AC” button
When you want to clear the memory from the calculator and clear the numbers on the screen, simply press the “AC” or “Clear” button. For example, start by pressing the "2," "x," "2," and press "=". Now, you will see the number “4” on the screen which is automatically saved in the calculator's memory. Press the “Clear” button and the number will return to “0”.
- The “AC” button stands for “All Clear”.
- If you press the "+, " "-, " "x," or "/" button after entering the number "4" and try to perform a new calculation operation without clearing the screen first, the entered number will become part of the previous calculation operation. Don't forget to press the “Clear” button if you want to start a new calculation operation in the middle of an unfinished calculation operation.
Step 8. Press the "Backspace," "Delete," or "CE" key to delete the last number
If you want to delete the last digit without eliminating the entire calculation operation, press the "Backspace" or "Delete" key. For example, if you press "4, " "x," " "2," ", but want to change it to "4, " "x," "3," press the "Delete" key to delete the number "2" and press " 3" to display the "4 x 3" calculation operation on the calculator screen.
- The “CE” button stands for “Clear Entry”.
- If you press the "Clear" key instead of the "Backspace" or "Delete" key, the entire calculation operation on the screen will return to "0".
Step 9. Press the " button
to enter a decimal number.
Start by entering another number before pressing the "." key, then press the number after the decimal and press the "=" key. For example, to display the numbers "50, 6,", press "5," "0, " ".," "6," then press "=".
- If you want to add addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division operations after entering a decimal number, you don't need to press the "=" key.
- Use the "+, " "-, " "x," and "÷" keys to add, subtract, multiply, or divide decimal numbers.
Step 10. Convert number to percentage with “%” button
Press the "%" key to divide the number on the screen by 100 and convert it to a percentage. For example, if you want to know the result of calculating 7% of 20, start by pressing the "7" key and the "%" key to get the result 0.07. After that, press the "x" and "20" keys to multiply the percentage by -0.07 - with 20, to get the result, which is "1, 4".
To convert a percentage to a number, multiply by 100. In the last example, you pressed the "7" and "%" keys to get the result 0.07. Now, press the "x" and "100" keys to multiply by 100 and get the result in numeric form, which is 7
Step 11. Create fractions with brackets and separator keys
In the United States, parentheses are called parentheses. Start by pressing the open parenthesis "(" followed by the numerator, which is the number above the line. Now, press the "÷" or "/" key and end the calculation with the ")". For example, the fraction "5/6" can be generated by pressing the "(, " "5," "/," "6," and ")" buttons.
Use the "+, " "-, " "x," and "÷" buttons to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. Don't forget to add brackets to each fraction so you don't miss the calculation result
Step 12. Add and subtract the calculator's temporary memory with the “M” key
The “M+” and “M-” keys can add and subtract numbers in the calculator's temporary memory on the screen. For example, press the number “5” and “M+” to enter the number 5 into memory. After that, press “5” again and press “M-“to remove it.
- Temporary storage is not affected by the “Clear” or “Backspace” key.
- If you want to reset the calculator's temporary memory, press “MC”.
- Use temporary storage to create simple calculation operations in the midst of more complex operations.
Method 2 of 2: Using a Scientific Calculator
Step 1. Create an inverted number by pressing the "1/x" or "x^-1" button
This function, known as the invert button, can return an inverted number of any number. For example, the reciprocal of 2 – which is written as a fraction 2/1 – is. Thus, you can press the number "2" and the "1/x" key to get the inverse result, which is (0, 5 in decimal form).
Multiplying a number by the inverting number always returns 1
Step 2. Find the square number by pressing the "X^2" or "yx" button
A square number is obtained by multiplying a number several times by the same number. For example, the square of 2 is "2 x 2," which gives the answer 4. If you press the number “2” on the calculator and press the "X^2" or "yx" keys, the answer is "4".
The second function of the square number key is usually accompanied by the symbol "√," or the square root. The square root is the value that converts a square number (such as 4) to its root (which is 2). For example, the square root of 4 is 2. So pressing the numbers “4” and “√” will result in the answer “2”
Step 3. Calculate the exponent of a number by pressing "^," "x^y," or "yX"
An exponential number is a number that refers to the number of times the original number was multiplied. The exponential button will take the first number (x) and multiply it by the same number by the number specified by “y”. For example, "2^6" represents the number 2 multiplied six times, or equals "2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2". This process can be done by pressing the following sequence of keys: press "2," press "x^y," press "6," then press "=". The end result is “64”.
- Any number (x) that has an exponent of 2 is called the square of x, while any number (x) that has an exponent of 3 is called a cubic number.
- The "^" keys are often found on graphing calculators, while the "x^y" and "yX" keys can be found on scientific calculators.
Step 4. Calculate scientific notation with "EE" or "EXP" button
Scientific notation is a method for describing large numbers – such as 0.0000000057 – in a simpler way. In this case, the scientific notation in question is 5.7 x 10-9. To convert a number to scientific notation, enter the number (5, 7), then press "EXP". After that, enter the exponent number (9), press "-", then press "=".
- Do not press the times (x) button after pressing the "EE" or "EXP" button.
- Use the "+/-" button to change the sign of the exponent.
Step 5. Use a trigonometric calculator with "sin," "cos," and "tan" buttons
To find the sine, cosine, or tangent of an angle, start by entering the angle's value in degrees. After that, press the "sin," "cos," or "tan" button to get the result of calculating sine, cosine, and tangent.
- To convert sine to degrees, enter the sine value and press the “sin-1” or “arcsin” button.
- If you want to convert the cosine or tangent angle to a number of degrees, press the cosine or tangent button and press the "cos-1" or "arccos" button.
- If your calculator doesn't have "arcsin," "sin-1," "arccos," or "cos-1" keys, press the "function" or "shift" keys, then press the regular "sin" or "cos" keys to change value to degrees.
