HP 20b HP 20b Calculator Quick Start Guide - Page 21

Chain Mode

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Mathematical Calculations To enter a number in the display, press the digits successively. A number can have up to 12 digits. To change the sign of a number from positive to negative, press }. Use scientific notation to enter very large and very small numbers. For example, to enter the number 12345.12123 in scientific notation, first enter the mantissa, 12345, then press :w and enter the number representing the exponent, 123. The exponent must have a value between -499 and +499. Chain Mode By default, calculations are performed in Chain mode. To change the calculating mode, refer to the section titled, The Mode Menu: Setting Preferences. Calculations in Chain mode are interpreted in the order in which they are entered. For example, enter the following numbers and operations as written from left to right: 1+2*3. See Figure 2-1. Note how if you press an operator key, +-*/, after =, the calculation is continued using the currently displayed value. Figure 2-1 Calculation in Chain Mode In Chain mode, if you wish to override the left to right order of entry, use parentheses () to prioritize operations. 21

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Mathematical Calculations
21
To enter a number in the display, press the digits successively. A number can
have up to 12 digits.
To change the sign of a number from positive to negative, press
}
.
Use scientific notation to enter very large and very small numbers. For example,
to enter the number
12345.12
123
in scientific notation, first enter the mantissa,
12345,
then press
:w
and enter the number representing the exponent,
123.
The exponent must have a value between -499 and +499.
Chain Mode
By default, calculations are performed in Chain mode. To change the calculating
mode, refer to the section titled,
The Mode Menu: Setting Preferences.
Calculations in Chain mode are interpreted in the order in which they are entered.
For example, enter the following numbers and operations as written from left to
right:
1+2*3
. See Figure 2-1. Note how if you press an
operator key,
+-*/
, after
=
, the calculation is continued using
the currently displayed value.
Figure 2-1 Calculation in Chain Mode
In Chain mode, if you wish to override the left to right order of entry, use
parentheses
()
to prioritize operations.