Modern calculators

Calculator

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Calculators calculator is a device used for conducting calculations. Modern calculators often incorporate general-purpose computing technology, but they're typically designed to execute specific functions. For example graphing calculators are focused on graph-centered mathematics, such as trigonometry as well as statistics. Also, modern calculators are smaller than computers in general although some personal digital aids (PDAs) are similar in size to hand held calculators.

Since calculators are tiny, in the future, devices which are as small as credit cards may perform the identical calculations that are currently used in large scientific calculators. Another possibility is comparable to a portable computer with the exception that the numbers aren't inputted by buttons but written on a screen. By this method, the need for buttons would be eliminated , and the size of the device will be reduced.

Overview

In the past, mechanical clerical aids like abaci, comptometers, Napier's bones, books of mathematical Tables, Slide Rules or mechanical adding machines were used to perform numeric calculations. The word "calculator" denoted a person who performed this work for a living employing such devices as well the pen or paper. The semi-manual procedure of calculation was tedious and error-prone.

Modern calculators are electrically powered and come in various shapes and sizes varying from inexpensive, giveaway, credit-card-sized models to robust models with built-in printers.

Electronic calculators

In the past, some calculators were as large as those used today. They were the first mechanical desktop devices, which were soon replaced by electromechanical desktop calculators and then by electronic devices using first thermionic devices, then transistors, and finally hard-wired integrated circuit logic. Today, the majority of calculators are hand-held microelectronic gadgets.

Basic configuration

The sophistication of calculators is contingent according to their purpose. A simple , modern calculator may consist of the following parts:

• A source of energy for example, a battery or solar panel, or both
• A display, made with LED lights as well as liquid crystal (LCD) capable of showing a range of numbers (typically 8 or 10)
• Electronic circuitry
• Keypads that contain:
  • The ten digitsof 0 through 9
  • The decimal point
  • The equals sign is used to ask for the answer
  • The four arithmetic functions (namely subtraction multiplication, division and subtraction)
  • A cancel button to eliminate the current calculation
  • To turn off or on, click the buttons.
  • Other fundamental functions are square root, for example and percent (%).
• Higher-end models may come with an individual number memory, which can be stored in case of need. There may also be an Cancel Entry button, to remove the numbers currently entered.

Since the end of the 1980s basic calculators have been fitted in smaller devices including smartphones, cell phones, or wrist watches.

Electronic calculators with advanced technology

More sophisticated scientific calculators offer trigonometric, statistical, and other mathematical functions. The most sophisticated modern calculators are able to display graphics and include features of computers algebra systems. They are also programmable. calculator programs include solvers for algebraic equations along with financial models, and even games. Many calculators of this kind can print numbers as large as 10 decimal places or digits completely on the screen. Scientific notation is used to note numbers of up to 9.999999999*10 ⁹⁹. If a larger number or a mathematical expression yielding an even greater number than the one entered (a typical example is typing "100! ", read as "100 factorial") then the calculator simply displays "error."

"Error" is also displayed if a function or an operation is undefined mathematically such as division by zero or even positive numbers' roots (most scientific calculators do not allow complex numbers, though some expensive ones do have an extra function to work with complex numbers). A few, but certainly not all calculators can recognize these two kinds of "error," though when they do, it's not always easy for users to understand because they're usually referred to with the names "error 1" or "error 2."

A handful of companies design and produce modern, professional financial and engineering calculators Most well-known are Casio, Sharp, Hewlett-Packard (HP) as well as Texas Instruments (TI). Such calculators are good models of embedded technology.