Section 5: Additional Operating Features

71

The DisplayStatus Indicators

Six indicators that appear along the bottom of the display signify the status of the calculator for certain operations. These status indicators are described elsewhere in this handbook where the relevant operation is discussed.

Number Display Formats

When the calculator is first turned on after coming from the factory or after Continuous Memory has been reset, answers are displayed with two decimal places.

KeystrokesDisplay

19.8745632\ 19.87

5- 14.87

Although you see only two decimal places, all calculations in your hp 12c are performed with full 10-digit numbers.

When only two decimal places are displayed, numbers are rounded to two decimal places: if the third digit is 5 through 9, the second digit is increased by one; if the third digit is 0 through 4, the second digit is not affected. Rounding occurs regardless of how many decimal places are displayed.

Several options are provided for controlling how numbers appear in the display. But regardless of which display format or how many displayed decimal places you specify, the number inside the calculator — which appears altered in the display — is not altered unless you use the B, !, V, Ý, or #functions.

Standard Display Format. The number 14.87 now in your calculator is currently being displayed in the standard display format with two decimal places shown. To display a different number of decimal places, press ffollowed by a digit key (0 through 9) specifying the number of decimal places. In the following examples, notice how the displayed form of the number inside the calculator — 14.87456320 — is rounded to the specified number of digits.

File name: hp 12c_user's guide_English_HDPMBF12E44

Page: 71 of 209

Printered Date: 2005/7/29

Dimension: 14.8 cm x 21 cm