HP 33s Scientific SHOWing Full 12-Digit Precision, 20Getting Started, Engineering Format 

Engineering Format ({})

ENG format displays a number in a manner similar to scientific notation, except that the exponent is a multiple of three (there can be up to three digits before the ")" or "8" radix mark). This format is most useful for scientific and engineering calculations that use units specified in multiples of 103 (such as micro–, milli–, and kilo–units.)

After the prompt, _, type in the number of digits you want after the first significant digit. For 10 or 11 places, press 0 or 1.

For example, in the number ) , the "2", "3", "4", and "6" are the significant digits after the first significant digit you see when the calculator is set to ENG 4 display mode. The "3" following the "" is the (multiple of 3) exponent of 10: 123.46 x 103.

Pressing Cor Awill cause the exponent display for the number being displayed to change in multiples of 3.

For example, key in the number )  and pressing Cwill convert the displayed value to ) , which the mantissa n satisfies 1≤ n < 1000 and the exponent is a multiple of 3. When you press Cagain, the displayed value is converted to 8 by shifting the decimal point three places to the right and converting the exponent to the next lower multiple of 3.

Key in the number ) and pressing A will convert the displayed value to )  , which the mantissa n satisfies 0.01≤ n < 10 and the exponent is a multiple of 3. When you press A again, the displayed value is converted to ) by shifting the decimal point three places to the left and converting the exponent to the next higher multiple of 3.

ALL Format ({})

ALL format displays a number as precisely as possible (12 digits maximum). If all the digits don't fit in the display, the number is automatically displayed in scientific format.

SHOWing Full 12–Digit Precision

Changing the number of displayed decimal places affects what you see, but it does not affect the internal representation of numbers. Any number stored internally always has 12 digits.

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