CALCULATOR OPERATIONS
Review of Introductory Mathematics
CALCULATOR OPERATIONS
This chapter gives the student a chance to reacquaint himself with
basic calculator operations.
The teaching of the "mechanics of mathematics" (division, multiplication, logarithms, etc.) in
recent years has focused more on the skills of using a calculator than on the pure principles of
the basic subject material. With the decreased cost of hand calculators, virtually every person
owns, or has access to, a calculator. A nuclear plant operator would be wise to learn how to use
most of the calculators available today. Such knowledge will help the operator make quick
decisions when circumstances arise for the need of a "quick calculation" of flow rate or some
other parameter.
Many calculators are available on the market today, and each one is a little different. For the
purpose of this module, a scientific calculator will be needed. The Texas Instruments scientific
calculator TI-30 will be used for the examples in this module. Most calculators work on the
same principles, but some do not. Some calculators operate on a programming principle like
Hewlett-Packard (HP). An HP calculator does not use an equal key. To perform a mathematical
operation, the first number is inserted, the ENTER key is pressed, the second number is inserted,
and then the mathematical function key is pressed. The result will be displayed. If a different
calculator is used, the student will need to refer to the reference manual for his or her calculator.
The following section will review the general use function keys on a TI-30 calculator. In each
following chapter of this module, the applicable calculator operations will be addressed.
Appendix A of this module gives a representation of a TI-30 keyboard to assist the student.
Keys
Clear entry/Clear key
Pressing this key once will clear the last operation and the display. Pressing this
key twice will clear all operations except the memory.
Note: To clear the memory, press clear then STO.
Note: Many brands break this function into two separate keys, usually labeled
"clear" and "all clear," where the "clear" key clears the last entry and the
"all clear" key clears the display and all pending operations.
MA-01
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