You can also do arithmetic with the values stored in variables. For example, 2 s* +(in the MU%C menu) multiplies the current contents of M%C by 2 and stores the product in M%C.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is useful when working with very large or very small numbers. Scientific notation shows a small number (less than 10) times 10 raised to a power. For example, the 1984 Gross National Product of the United States was $3,662,800,000,000. In scientific notation, this is 3.6628 x1012. For very small numbers the decimal point is moved to the right and 10 is raised to a negative power. For example, 0.00000752 can be written as 7.52 x 10−6.

When a calculation produces a result with more than 12 digits, the number is automatically displayed in scientific notation, using a capital E in place of “x10^”.

Remember that &changes the sign of the entire number, and not of the exponent. Use -to make a negative exponent.

Type in the numbers 4.78 x 1013 and −2.36 x 10−15.

Keys:

Display:

Description:

4.78 @\13

+&-*H#%"

Pressing @\starts the

 

 

exponent.

@c

(&(("

Clears number.

2.36 @\-

"

Pressing -before an

15

$&%'H/#."

exponent makes it

 

 

negative.

&

/$&%'H/#."

Pressing &makes the

 

 

entire number negative.

@c

"

Clears number.

2: Arithmetic 47

File name : 17BII-Plus-Manual-E-PRINT-030709

Print data : 2003/7/11

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Page 47
Image 47
HP 17bII manual Scientific Notation
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