Section 1: Getting Started

17

Throughout this handbook, references to the functions shown on the keyboard in gold under the bracket labeled “ CLEAR” appear throughout this handbook preceded by the word “CLEAR” (for example, “The CLEARH function …” or “Pressing fCLEARH…”).

If you press the f or g prefix key mistakenly, you can cancel it by pressing fCLEARX. This can also be pressed to cancel the ?, :, and i keys. (These keys are “prefix” keys in the sense that other keys must be pressed after them in order to execute the corresponding function.) Since the X key is also used to display the mantissa (all 10 digits) of a displayed number, the mantissa of the number in the display will appear for a moment after the Xkey is released.

Pressing the f or g prefix key turns on the corresponding status indicator — f or g — in the display. Each indicator turns off when you press a function key (executing an alternate function of that key), another prefix key, or fCLEARX.

Keying in Numbers

To key a number into the calculator, press the digit keys in sequence, just as if you were writing the number on paper. A decimal point must be keyed in (using the decimal point key) if it is part of the number unless it appears to the right of the last digit.

Digit Separators

As a number is keyed in, each group of three digits to the left of the decimal point is automatically separated in the display. When the calculator is first turned on after coming from the factory — or after Continuous Memory is reset — the decimal point in displayed numbers is a dot, and the separator between each group of three digits is a comma. If you wish, you can set the calculator to display a comma for the decimal point and a dot for the three-digit separator. To do so, turn the calculator off, then press and hold down the .key while you press ;. Doing so again sets the calculator to use the original digit separators in the display.

Negative Numbers

To make a displayed number negative — either one that has just been keyed in or one that has resulted from a calculation — simply press Þ (change sign) —. When the display shows a negative number — that is, the number is preceded by a minus sign — pressing Þremoves the minus sign from the display, making the number positive.

File name: hp 12c pt_user's guide_English_HDPMF123E27

Page: 17 of 275

Printed Date: 2005/8/1

Dimension: 14.8 cm x 21 cm