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18 Section 1: Getting Started
File name: hp 12c pt_user's guide_English_HDPMF123E27 Page: 18 of 275
Printed Date: 2005/8/1 Dimension: 14.8 cm x 21 cm
Keying in Large Numbers
Since the display cannot show more than 10 digits of a number, numbers greater
than 9,999,999,999 cannot be entered into the display by keying in all the digits
in the number. However, such numbers can be easily entered into the display if the
number is expressed in a mathematical shorthand called “scientific notation.” To
convert a number into scientific notation, move the decimal point until there is only
one digit (a nonzero digit) to its left. The resulting number is called the “mantissa”
of the original number, and the number of decimal places you moved the decimal
point is called the “exponent” of the original number. If you moved the decimal
point to the left, the exponent is positive; if you moved the decimal point to the
right (this would occur for numbers less than one), the exponent is negative. To key
the number into the display, simply key in the mantissa, press
Æ
(enter exponent),
then key in the exponent. If the exponent is negative, press
Þ
after pressing
Æ
.
For example, to key in $1,781,400,000,000, we move the decimal point 12
places to the left, giving a mantissa of 1.7814 and an exponent of 12:
Keystrokes Display
1.7814
Æ
12
1.7814 12
1,781,400,000,000 entered
in scientific notation.
Numbers entered in scientific notation can be used in calculations just like any
other number.
Backspacing
While you are entering a number, pressing
gÚ
deletes the last character you
entered. After performing a calculation, pressing
gÚ
deletes the current
number.
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
Display
12345
gÚgÚ
.63
\
123.63
Correcting removes the 4 and
5.
gÚ
clears the most recent
digit entered.
5
+
128.63
gÚ
0.00
Clears the calculator line.