Calculator requirements for electricity and electronics
Selecting a calculator appropriate for electronics is an important decision. The marketplace is flooded with many makes and models. Which is the right one? Which functions will prove to be the most useful? For this text- book, choose a calculator that has the following functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1⁄X or X , x , and √ . A memory function is optional but can decrease data entry time.
It is important to know the sequence for entering data into a scientific calculator. These are some basic data entry requirements that should be practiced:
● Use the proper keystroke sequence to apply a formula.
● Store and recall values in memory.
● Calculate using exponents, reciprocals, powers, and roots. A base number and an exponent rep- resent a power. The base number is the number to be multiplied. The exponent, a small number written above and to the right of the base number, tells how many times the base number is being multiplied. Exponents are shorthand for repeated multiplication of a number by itself.
● Determine the trigonometric functions of a given phase relationship.
All calculators generally come with a manual, which should be kept handy.
Questions
1. What calculator functions are required with the textbook?
2. What purpose does a memory function serve with a calculator?
3. When using a scientific calculator, what is important?
4. What basic data entry requirement should be practiced?
5. What do all calculators come with that should be kept handy?