HP 20b Consultant Financial manual Chain Mode

Mathematical Calculations

To enter a number in the display, press the digits successively. A number can have up to 12 digits.

To change the sign of a number from positive to negative, press }.

Use scientific notation to enter very large and very small numbers. For example, to enter the number 12345.12123 in scientific notation, first enter the mantissa, 12345, then press :wand enter the number representing the exponent,

123.The exponent must have a value between -499 and +499.

Chain Mode

By default, calculations are performed in Chain mode. To change the calculating mode, refer to the section titled, The Mode Menu: Setting Preferences.

Calculations in Chain mode are interpreted in the order in which they are entered. For example, enter the following numbers and operations as written from left to right: 1+2*3. See Figure 2-1. Note how if you press an operator key, +-*/, after =, the calculation is continued using the currently displayed value.

Figure 2-1 Calculation in Chain Mode

In Chain mode, if you wish to override the left to right order of entry, use parentheses ()to prioritize operations.

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