![]() It had 49 programming steps, and the program had to be re-entered from the keyboard, line-by-line, every time the calculator was turned off. My first HP was the HP-25, a glorious invention when it came out in 1975. The "C" suffix stood for "continuous memory", meaning that programs and data did not disappear when the calculator was shut off. I'm waiting for one to ask for the " 4:30 autogyro to Siam one of these days. Strange people who aren't willing to change with the times. I can't begin to count the number of times I've seen accountants repeatedly type in long strings of numbers because of typos. For reasons I cannot fully grasp a lot of accountants still insist on using paper tape calculators to add up long strings of numbers even though they have a spreadsheet available on their computer. Frankly I can't imagine I'm going to use it in the next 8 years either. (they only allow those two calculators in the test) Otherwise it sits in a drawer and gathers dust. I have one of the TI BA-IIPlus calculators and the only time I have used it in the last 8 years was to take a certification exam. Sure it works but it probably isn't the best tool available most of the time. (happens now and then) The HP-12C is a fine piece of equipment but if you have a spreadsheet available it's kind of like using a slide rule. Most serious number crunching is done on a spreadsheet so the only use for one is if you are in a meeting or need to do a very quick calculation when a computer isn't readily available. Look at any business school class these days any you will not find very many HP-12Cs or TI BA-IIPlus calculators anywhere. Matlab, Maple, and Mathematica for more money if you're serious. Spreadsheets are excellent but have no native ability to solve or graph calculus equations. ![]() And once you have a good understanding, you're just reinforcing that same knowledge. ![]() Reason 2 has less to do with the calculation than it has to do with IT and computer science. Reason 1 disappears if you spend most of your time sitting in front of a relatively modern computer. Reverse polish is good on old style calculators for exactly 2 reasons:ġ) You have the limited input and output of a calculator keyboard and screen.Ģ) You more closely mirror what a turing machine/computer is doing, so if you're trying to understand one it's a good way to get closer to the architecture Time saved can be used to do simple checking (plugging the answer back into the question). Both statistical and scientific functions. You can see your work and modify or correct mistakes at will. The only rule for assignments and exams was no collaboration.Īdvantages of a spreadsheet: Repeatable. We also had open book exams, and were permitted to use any calculation tools we wished. I did an Astronomy masters (finished 2002) and significantly cut down my time doing assignments involving simple algebra by using a spreadsheet. Calculator works perfectly fine.As long as calculus isn't involved, a spreadsheet is best. He started to make some calculations and sure enough. He said: I did step number one, which is resetting the calculator from Keyboard and look. He went to his room and after a few minutes came to the kitchen with this huge smile on his face. I printed this document and hand it to my father ( he is 78 years old ) and told him to follow instructions. So I decided to go online and find a solution and came accross with this forum. By coincidence my parents are here visiting. A few days ago I was looking at old stuff and found the calculator. Too late for return to Amazon so I kept in the house as trash. Not knowing what to do he ship it back to me. Calculator shipped overseas and when Dad got it, it seemed like it was not working.
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