HP 17bII - Using Parentheses in Calculations

2: Arithmetic 39
File name : English-M02-1-040308(Print).doc Print data : 2004/3/9
In the second case, the
/
key acts like the
=
key by displaying the
result of 750 x 12.
Here’s a longer chain calculation.
4
56 - 75 68
18.5 1.9
×
This calculation can be written as: 456 − 75 ÷ 18.5 x 68 ÷ 1.9.
Watch what happens in the display as you key it in:
Keys: Display:
456
-
75
/

18.5
*

68
/

1.9
=

Using Parentheses in Calculations
Use parentheses when you want to postpone calculating an
intermediate result until you’ve entered more numbers. For example,
suppose you want to calculate:
30
x 9
85 -12
If you were to key in 30
/
85
-
, the calculator would calculate the
intermediate result, 0.35. However, that’s not what you want. To de-
lay the division until you’ve subtracted 12 from 85, use parentheses:
Keys: Display: Description:
30
/(
85
-
 No calculation is done.
12
)
 Calculates 85 − 12.
*
9  Calculates 30 / 73.
=
 Calculates 0.41x 9.
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