HP 12C Financial 12C manual 1487456320

Section 5: Additional Operating Features 89

exponent is simply how many decimal places you would move the decimal point in the mantissa before writing down the number in standard format. If the exponent is negative (that is, there is a minus sign between it and the mantissa), the decimal point should be moved to the left; this occurs for any number less than 1. If the exponent is positive (that is, there is a blank space between it and the mantissa), the decimal point should be moved to the right; this occurs for any number greater than or equal to 1.

To set the display format to scientific notation, press f.. For example (assuming the display still shows 14.87456320 from the preceding example):

Keystrokes Display

f. 1.487456 01

The exponent in this example indicates that the decimal point should be moved one decimal place to the right, giving the number 14.87456, which is the first seven digits of the number previously in the display.

To set the display back to standard display format, press f followed by the desired number of decimal places. Scientific notation display format remains in effect until you change to the standard display format; it is not reset each time the calculator is turned on. However, if Continuous Memory is reset, when the calculator is next turned on the standard display format, with two decimal places, will be used.

Mantissa Display Format. Because both the standard display format and scientific notation display format often show only a few digits of a number, you may occasionally want to see all 10 digits — the full mantissa — of the number inside the calculator. To do so, press fCLEARX and hold down the X key. The display will show all 10 digits of the number as long as you hold down the

Xkey; after you release the key, the number will again be displayed in the current display format. For instance, if the display still contains the result from the preceding example:

Keystrokes	Display
fCLEARX	1487456320	All 10 digits of the number inside
		the calculator.
	1.487456 01	Display returns to its former
		contents when the Xkey is
		released.
f2	14.87	Returns display to standard format.

File name: hp 12c pt_user's guide_English_HDPMF123E27	Page: 89 of 275
Printed Date: 2005/8/1	Dimension: 14.8 cm x 21 cm