How do I change how many decimal places are displayed on a HP-12C.
I don't see a "FIX" key.
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FIX key on HP-12C
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Post: #14
10-14-2006, 01:20 PM
 Hi, Antonio;
Quote:We could add [f][0] and [f][.] to your list, being [f][.] the scientific notation. My 2¢. Luiz (Brazil)
Edited: 14 Oct 2006, 1:22 p.m. ▼
Post: #15
10-14-2006, 02:43 PM
I have compared f [n] of the 12C and fix [n] of the 11C. For example we have a number 0.0012345 f [2] of the 12C gives 0.001 whereas f fix [2] of the 11C gives 1.23x10^-3 Which way do you prefer?
Edited: 14 Oct 2006, 3:10 p.m. ▼
Post: #16
10-14-2006, 03:51 PM
Kalevipoeg posted,
Quote: f [0], f [1], f [2], and f [3] all display 0.0012345 as 0.001 on the HP-12C, as do the HP-10B, HP-14B, HP-17B, and HP-17BII. In effect, 0.001 is a "FIX 3" format. That's a nice bit of insight into design principles of HP's business- and scientific-calculator models: The business calculators offer a limited choice of selectable display formats:
Of course, if the magnitude of a number is outside the range of the display using a FIX format, scientific notation with a base-10 exponent will be utilized. For numbers of small non-zero magnitude, these models will simply extend a FIX display format with more decimal digits as needed until the number can be displayed as a non-zero value. The scientific models, by contrast, offer selectable scientific notation with a designated number of decimal digits -- SCI [n] and ENG [n], n = 0-9 or 0-11, as appropriate. So, they will revert to scientific notation with the same number [n] of decimal digits, if FIX [n] cannot represent a non-zero value using only [n] decimal digits. So, why don't the HP business-calculator models use the procedure of the HP scientific-calculator models? Because to do so would often invoke a non-selectable display mode, and that scientific notation is generally avoided in business applications unless absolutely necessary. There you have it. BTW, I prefer the procedure of the scientific models, but one should recognize that it is based on their built-in capabilities. -- KS
Edited: 14 Oct 2006, 9:49 p.m. ▼
Post: #17
10-15-2006, 04:16 AM
Quote: ... and on the intended audience. Business people are (in most cases) not scientists and would wonder far too often what that strange display "1.23 -03" means: "Is my calc broken?". The display of "0.001" is easy to understand for them: "Oh, it's less then a cent!". Marcus ▼
Post: #18
10-15-2006, 03:13 PM
Hi, Marcus -- You posted:
Quote: A very good point, and in fact the built-in capabilities are based upon said "intended audience". Many modern low-end scientific calculators with a 7-segment display line for numerical results include a tiny "x10" annunciator just below and to the left of the exponent -- just to prevent any possible confusion... -- KS
Post: #19
10-16-2006, 08:44 AM
Karl, That's a nice essay. And it shows very well how much thoughtfulness went into the design of these machines. No wonder we are willing to mortage our houses for them;-) regards, Bill
Post: #20
10-16-2006, 03:00 AM
Luiz wrote:
Quote: Of course... -- Antonio
Post: #21
10-14-2006, 12:13 PM
'f' followed by 4 will give you 4 decimal places. 'f' followed by 2 will give you 2 decimal places.... ▼
Post: #22
10-14-2006, 03:42 PM
Thanks, My eyes just couldn't find that in the owner's manual.......whose text size is too small. Best wishes |