How to use the scientific and basic calculators

Steps

1. Open the scientific calculator and type an expression, such as (2 + 3) * 4 + sqrt(16).
2. Use + - * / for the four operations, ^ for powers, ! for factorials and mod for remainders. You can also type × and ÷.
3. For trigonometry, choose degrees or radians, then type sin(30), cos(60) or tan(45).
4. Read the answer. If the expression is not valid, the calculator says what is wrong, such as an unclosed bracket.
5. For two numbers and one operation, use the basic calculator instead.

The order of operations

The calculator works brackets first, then powers and factorials, then multiplication, division and mod, then addition and subtraction. So 2 + 3 × 4 is 14, not 20, and (2 + 3) × 4 is 20. Powers go from right to left, so 2^3^2 is 2^9 = 512.

A minus sign in front of a power applies after it: −2^2 is −4. Write (−2)^2 if you want 4.

Functions and constants

Try 2^10 = 1,024, sqrt(16) = 4, cbrt(27) = 3, log(1000) = 3 (base 10), ln(e) = 1 (natural log), 5! = 120 and 27^(1/3) = 3. In degrees, sin(30) = 0.5 and sin(180) is exactly 0. The names pi and e stand for 3.14159… and 2.71828…, and 2pi or 3(4 + 5) work without a multiplication sign.

The basic calculator

Enter the first number, choose an operation and enter the second. It handles add, subtract, multiply, divide, power, remainder and percent of: 15% of 2,400 is 360, and 17 mod 5 is 2. It will not divide by zero, and it tells you so instead of showing a wrong answer. Nothing you type leaves your device.