Modern calculators

Calculator

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A calculator is an instrument for performing calculations. These days, most calculators incorporate an all-purpose computing system however, they're often made for specific purposes. For example graphing calculators are focused on graph-oriented math, like trigonometry, statistics and so on. Additionally, modern calculators are more portable than most computers although some personal digital assistants (PDAs) are comparable in size to hand-held calculators.

Since calculatorsare reduced to a minimum, the day will come when devices that are the size of credit cards might be able to perform the exact calculations that are currently used in large scientific calculators. Another possibility is similar to a handheld computer which has notations that are not input by buttons, but rather written on an LCD. In this way, the requirement for buttons could be eliminated , and also the size of the device would be reduced.

Overview

The past was when mechanical clerical aids such as abaci, comptometers, Napier's bones, books of mathematical Tables, Slide Rules, or mechanical adding machines were employed for numeric work. The word "calculator" denoted a person who worked to earn a living by using these aids along with the pen or paper. The semi-manual method of calculation was time-consuming and error-prone.

Modern calculators are powered by electricity and come in countless dimensions and shapes, ranging from cheap, give-away, credit-card-sized models to sturdy models with adding machine-like features that include built-in printers.

Electronic calculators

In the past, some calculators were as massive as those used today. Mechanical calculators first appeared as desktop devices, which were later replaced by electromechanical calculators for desktops, and eventually, electronic devices that utilized first thermionic devices, then transistors, later hard-wired integrated circuit logic. Today, the majority of calculators are handheld microelectronic devices.

Basic configuration

The level of complexity of calculators differs in accordance with their intended use. A simple calculator can comprise the following parts:

• A source of energy such as a batteries or solar panel, or both
• Displays are typically made out of LED lights as well as liquid crystal (LCD) capable of showing a number of digits (typically eight or 10)
• Electronic circuitry
• A keypad that contains:
  • The ten numbers, 0 through 9
  • The decimal point
  • The equals sign to call for the answer
  • The four Arithmetic functions (namely subtraction, addition multiplication, division and subtraction)
  • A Cancel button, to eliminate the current calculation
  • Switches for off and on
  • Other basic functions are square root, for example and the percentage (%).
• The more advanced models might have only one number in memory, and can be stored in case of need. There may also be a Cancel Entry button, to delete the current number being entered.

Since the late 1980s, simple calculators have been added to other devices, such as smartphones, cell phones, or wrist watches.

Advanced electronic calculators

Advanced scientific calculators can support trigonometric, statistical and different mathematical applications. The most sophisticated modern calculators can display graphics, and have features that are compatible with computer algebra systems. They can also be programmed. calculators include solvers for algebraic equations along with financial models, and games. The majority of calculators can print numbers that are up to 10 decimal points or digits in full on the screen. Scientific notation is used to note numbers of up to 9.999999999*10 ⁹⁹. If a bigger number or a mathematical equation that returns higher numbers than the number entered (a popular example is entering "100! ", read as "100 factorial") then the calculator simply displays "error."

"Error" is also displayed when a function or procedure isn't mathematically understood or mathematically. For instance, division using zero, or positive numbers' roots (most scientific calculators don't permit complex numbers, although some high-end models do have an extra function to work with them). Some, but not most calculators do recognize these two types of "error," though when they do, it is difficult for users to understand because they are usually given with the names "error 1" or "error 2."

There are a handful of companies that design and produce modern, high-end finance and engineering calculators the most well-known include Casio, Sharp, Hewlett-Packard (HP), as well as Texas Instruments (TI). Such calculators are good instances of embedded system.