Since the display cannot show more than 10 digits of a number, numbers greater than 9,999,999,999 cannot be entered into the display by keying in all the digits in the number. However, such numbers can be easily entered into the display if the number is expressed in a mathematical shorthand called “scientific notation.” To convert a number into scientific notation, move the decimal point until there is only one digit (a nonzero digit) to its left. The resulting number is called the “mantissa” of the original number, and the number of decimal places you moved the decimal point is called the “exponent” of the original number. If you moved the decimal point to the left, the exponent is positive; if you moved the decimal point to the right (this would occur for numbers less than one), the exponent is negative. To key the number into the display, simply key in the mantissa, press Æ(enter exponent),
then key in the exponent. If the exponent is negative, press Þ after pressing Æ.
For example, to key in $1,781,400,000,000, we move the decimal point 12 places to the left, giving a mantissa of 1.7814 and an exponent of 12:
Keystrokes | Display |
|
1.7814Æ12 | 1.7814 12 | 1,781,400,000,000 entered in |
|
| scientific notation. |
Numbers entered in scientific notation can be used in calculations just like any other number.
The CLEAR KeysClearing a register or the display replaces the number in it with zero. Clearing program memory replaces the instructions there with gi00. There are several clearing operations on the hp 12c, as shown in the table below:
Key(s)Clears:ODisplay and
fCLEAR² Statistics registers (R1 through R6), stack registers, and display.
fCLEARÎ Program memory (only when pressed in Program mode). fCLEARG Financial registers.
fCLEARH Data storage registers, financial registers, stack and LAST X registers, and display.
File name: hp 12c_user's guide_English_HDPMBF12E44 | Page: 18 of 209 |
Printered Date: 2005/7/29 | Dimension: 14.8 cm x 21 cm |