Why does my calculator answer in fractions

Use your calculator to calculate the value of the denominator of , then complete the calculation by finding the value of to 3 significant figures. A variation on the above method is to break the calculation into two parts, and use the memory functions of the calculator to store the result of the first part. The calculator memory is particularly useful when you want to calculate the values of several expressions that have a common part.

This common part need be entered only once and its value reused several times subsequently. For example, rewriting the formula for the volume of wood contained in a log as. If we wished to calculate the volume of wood contained in several different logs, it might be efficient to calculate the value of once, store it in memory and reuse this value in the subsequent calculations. The calculator has several different memories. Before using the calculator memory, it is good practice to always clear any previous data stored in the calculator using the key sequence CLR Memory Yes.

To store the result of an expression just calculated i. After selecting the store function, we need to tell the calculator which memory the value is to be stored in. Once or STO has been pressed, the display indicator RCL or STO is shown on the display to indicate that the calculator is waiting to know which memory to recall store the value from in.

The value of which equals 0. This value can then be used to find the final result using M , which gives 0. Expressions can also be stored in, added to or subtracted from the memory at the same time as they are evaluated by replacing the at the end of a calculation with one of the memory access sequences.

For example, to calculate and store the result straight into the memory, use the key sequence STO M. Each memory name is printed in red above the key used to access it. If the result of a calculation is a number greater than or equal to i. For example, calculating gives the answer. Small numbers are also automatically displayed using scientific notation. However, how small the number needs to be for this to happen depends on the mode the calculator is working in:. In Activity 1 you will have already set your calculator to use Norm 2 mode, and we suggest that for the moment you continue to use this.

You can also set the calculator to always display results using scientific notation with a set number of significant figures using the key sequence SETUP Sci followed by the number of significant figures required, for example. When your calculator is set in this fashion, the display indicator SCI is displayed at the top of the screen.

Numbers expressed in scientific notation can be input directly to the calculator by using the key on the bottom row of keys. For example, can be entered using the key sequence. Use the scientific notation functions of your calculator to calculate each of the following, giving your answer in both scientific and ordinary forms.

In Activity 4 you saw how to use the key to input powers on the calculator. The key can be used with other functions, such as the fraction template , to calculate fractional and negative powers. Calculate each of the following using your calculator, giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures. Just as there are keys on your calculator for entering powers, roots can also be entered directly. Square roots can be calculated using the key. For example, can be entered using.

Cube roots are entered using the second function of this key. For higher roots, such as fourth or fifth roots you need to use the more general template, which is the second function of the key.

This template is filled in by using the number and arrow keys and in a way similar to that used when the fraction template is completed. You will notice from the result of Activity 15, part 4 that the calculator sometimes presents answers using surds.

To find the decimal equivalent of an answer like this, you can use the or keys that you used earlier to find the decimal forms of fractional answers. Sometimes when entering into your calculator an expression involving roots, you may accidentally forget to press the appropriate function key. However, moving the cursor to the correct point and pressing the missing key, as in section 1, will not work as this simply inserts an empty template.

If you wish to edit an expression to insert a missing root, first move the cursor to the correct place — that is, to the left of the number. There are various different units in which an angle can be measured, degrees being one of the possibilities. Before using your calculator to find the values of the trigonometric ratios of angles measured in degrees, you need to ensure that it is set to use the correct units.

Always check that your calculator is using the correct system of angle measurement before using trigonometric ratios. Your calculator is set to use degrees if the display indicator is shown at the top of the screen.

If you see the indicator or , then your calculator is set to use different units for measuring angles. To calculate the sine, cosine or tangent of an angle, press the , or key and then type in the size of the angle.

Note that the , and keys automatically open a bracket for you. If you are simply calculating the sine, cosine or tangent of an angle, just press after entering the angle — there is no need to close the bracket. If you are using these ratios as part of a larger calculation, then you will need to remember to close the bracket yourself by pressing before entering the remainder of the calculation. Some older models of calculator require the angle to be input first, followed by the , or button.

Calculate the value of each of the following using your calculator, giving your answers correct to 3 significant figures. If you obtained the answer 0. Note that when entering this expression in your calculator, it is possible to omit explicitly entering the multiplication between the 2 and since the calculator will assume it. Note that means first find the sine of , then square the answer. The key sequence to enter into the calculator is thus. The first is necessary to close the bracket automatically opened when pressing , and the second closes the bracket opened at the start of the sequence.

Since the calculator evaluates the sine as soon as it encounters the first closing bracket, it is possible to enter this expression using the alternative sequence , but this is not recommended as the former is more clear. It is a property of trigonometric ratios that for any angle ,. You will notice from the answer to part 3 that the calculator displays the ratios of some angles as fractions, involving surds where needed, and not in decimal form.

The decimal form can be found using or. Inverse trigonometric values can be found using the second functions , and of the , and keys. These functions are used in a similar manner to , and. Calculate the value of each of the following expressions using your calculator, where possible, giving your answers correct to 1 decimal place.

If you obtained the answer or 0. Make sure that you are working in degrees. In part 1 of the activity above, you used your calculator to find an angle whose sine is 0. This is not the only angle whose sine is 0. Similar remarks apply to parts 2 and 3. Your calculator can be set to calculate trigonometric functions using the radian measure for angles, instead of degrees, by using the key sequence SETUP Rad.

When in this mode, the display indicator is shown. In this activity, the angles are measured in radians. Find the values of the following expressions, giving your answers correct to 3 significant figures. Remember: can be input to the calculator using. Notice from the final example in this activity that where an answer is a simple possibly fractional multiple of , the answer is displayed in terms of rather than as a decimal number.

Logarithms to base 10 of numbers can be found using the key. For example, can be calculated using the key sequence. Note that as with the trigonometric functions, the key automatically opens a bracket that must be closed if you are using the calculated logarithm as part of a longer calculation.

The second function of the key , accessed using , can be used as an alternative to when calculating powers of All the calculations are logarithms to base 10, so we use the key. Natural logarithms, for example , can be evaluated on your calculator using the key. The second function of this key permits the calculation of powers of. Note that an approximate value for itself can be obtained using the key sequence. Remember that means the same as ln. Some calculators have a key instead of. Calculate the value of each of the following using your calculator, giving each answer to 3 significant figures.

Notice that this is about three times the answer to part 2. In fact, the exact value of is precisely three times the exact value of.

This is because , and for any base of logarithm,. This is an important result for logarithms. In this case we have. To calculate this answer correctly, you need to remember to close the bracket after the 3 on your calculator display. Comp mode is selected by using the key sequence COMP. There are two different ways in which mathematics can be input to and displayed on the calculator:.

You know that you are in Math mode if the word Math is shown near the right-hand side of the top of the calculator display. If this is not shown, you are using Linear mode. In Math mode, you can force an answer to be displayed as a decimal using , or you can toggle between the mathematical and decimal outputs using. It is possible to set the calculator so that answers that are top-heavy fractions such as are always displayed as mixed numbers such as.

The key has been pressed. The line displayed is longer than can fit on the display. CLR Memory Yes. CLR All Yes. STO M. Set answers to be displayed to 3 decimal places To use a different number of decimal places, replace with that number.

Switch your calculator to math mode, if necessary. Push the mode button to open a menu. Push the fraction button to enter your fraction. Push this button to open the fraction feature on your calculator. This will look like 2 blank boxes, one on top of the other.

There will be a horizontal line separating the boxes. Enter the numerator in the top box. Your cursor will start out in the top box on the fraction. Use the keypad on the calculator to type in the numerator, which is the top number in the fraction. Push the down arrow to move your cursor to the lower box. Then, type the arrow that points down to move your cursor to the lower box in the template.

Type the denominator into the lower box. Use your keypad to type the denominator, which is the lower number on the fraction. Then, check that your fraction looks right on the calculator screen. Method 2. Download and install Fraction Calculator Plus. Fraction Calculator Plus is an app specifically made for calculating fractions on mobile devices.

Tap the Search tab iPhone and iPad only. Use the search bar to search for "Fraction Calculator Plus. Open Fraction Calculator Plus. It has an icon that resembles a blue calculator screen with two fractions being added. Use the number pad on the left to enter whole numbers. If your equation has any whole numbers, use the large number buttons on the left to enter a whole number.

These are the large numbers that go in front of a fraction. Use the number pad in the top-right corner to enter the numerator.

It's the small number pad above the line on the right. The numerator is the number that goes on top in a fraction. Use the number pad in the bottom-right corner to enter the denominator. This is the number that goes on the bottom in a fraction. Use the small number pad below the line on the right to enter the denominator of a fraction. Tap the math symbols at the bottom. It will be displayed as a fraction. You can view your answer in decimal format in the upper-right corner.

Tap the icon that resembles a checkmark next to some lines next to your answer to view the steps to solve the equation. Method 3. If you are using a PC or Mac, you can use the desktop calculator, but you will need to convert your fractions into decimals like you would on a normal calculator.

If you want to use a calculator that is specifically designed for solving fractions and will show you the steps, you can use an online calculator. This website has a variety of calculators used to solve fractions. Pick which calculator you want to use. The web page has several different calculators you can use. If you are solving simple fractions with no whole numbers, use the first calculator at the top labeled "Fraction Calculator". If you need to solve equations that involve whole numbers and fractions, use the "Mixed Numbers Calculator.

Additionally, this web page has a calculator used to simplify fractions, convert decimals to fractions and fractions to decimals, and a calculator used to solve fractions with really big numbers. Enter your numbers.

If you are using the basic fractions calculator at the top, enter the numerators top numbers for your fractions in the top boxes. Shows the work involved and converts inputs to equivalent fractions with LCD. Comparing Fractions. Shows inputs converted to equivalent fractions with LCD. Solving for X in Fractions. Shows the work for cross multiplication. Includes fractions table for fractions on the order of halves, quarters, eighths, and sixteenths with their decimal equivalents. Averaging Fractions.

Calculate the average of a set of fractions. Finds the average of positive and negative, proper and improper fractions, integers and mixed numbers.

Includes the option to show the work involved in calculating the result. Fractions Table. Fractions in order from 0 through 1 for halves through sixteenths.

Includes decimal equivalents of fractions. Fractions Number Line. Decimal to Fraction Converter. Decimal to Percent Converter. Fraction to Decimal Converter.

Fraction to Percent Converter. Percent to Decimal Converter. Percent to Fraction Converter. Mixed Numbers to Decimal Converter. Mixed Numbers to Percent Converter. Basic Calculator. Fractions Calculators. Fraction Operations and Manipulations Fractions Calculator Operations on proper and improper fractions. Mixed Fractions Same as Mixed Numbers. Simplifying Fractions Convert improper fractions to mixed numbers. Simplifying Complex Fractions Calculator Simplify fractions given numerators and denominators of any two mixed numbers mixed fractions , regular fractions, improper fractions or integers.

Complex Fraction Calculator Add, subtract, multiply and divide complex fractions that have mixed numbers, fractions, or integers.