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How to use this Online Calculator
This online calculator can be used for performing simple calculations, but it's real value comes when you save calculations into the tape and use them in conjunction with the other specialized calculators on the site.
As you enter a series of operations, you'll notice the display builds up a traditional representation of the calculation in the top most part of the calculator. When you finally hit the equals key, the calculator will store the graphical representation of the calculation along with the final answer in the tape. Later, you can return to this calculation at any time by clicking that entry in the tape.
You can copy the result of your calculation to the clipboard by clicking the "Result" button immediately to the left of the calculator's main display.
What Do the AC, C, and ⌫ Keys Do?
When you're working with a calculator, you may find yourself wanting to get rid of the last keypress, or maybe the last thing you entered or the last thing you calculated. There's a (sometimes confusing) set of keys that allow you to clear some or all of your work. If you're like me, you spent some time in school hitting one or more of these keys multiple times to clear everything out before starting a new calculation, but if you know exactly what each of these clear keys do you'll know exactly what to clear and when.
Clear Keys on a Calculator
- AC
- All Clear. This clears everything you're working on currently in the calculator. On some calculators you will see this key labelled as 'Clear' or 'CC'.
- C
- Clear. This key will clear the current number entry in the calculator, but keeps the calculation you are working on. On some calculators, you will see this key labelled as 'CE' for 'Clear Entry'.
- ⌫
- This unusual symbol is the backspace key and it deletes the last character from the current calculator input. Obviously this helps when you just hit the wrong number key, but it can also be used to trim down the precision of a number you just computed for use in a later calculation.
Using the Calculator Memory Functions
Ever wondered what all those "M" keys on your calculator do? You can store the result of an intermediate step of a calculation in the calculator's memory, then pull that result back another calculation later. The calculator memory is managed using a set of keys that all start with 'M'.
Memory Keys on a Calculator
- MC
- Memory Clear. Clears the contents of the calculator memory location.
- MS
- Memory Store. Copies the current calculator result to the calculator memory location.
- MR
- Memory Recall. Copies the current calculator memory to the calculator result for use as part of the current calculation. This behaves as though you just entered the a value into the calculator using the number keys.
- M+
- Memory Plus. Adds the current calculator result from the contents of the calculator memory location. If the calculator memory is currently blank, it assumes a starting value or zero.
- M-
- Memory Minus. Subtracts the current calculator result from the contents of the calculator memory location. If the calculator memory is currently blank, it assumes a starting value or zero.
