24 Section 2: Memory Stack, LAST X, and Data Storage
The same number positioning would be used to add 15 to 98, multiply 98 by 15,
or divide 98 by 15.
Chain Calculations
The simplicity and power of your HP-10C logic system are very apparent during
chain calculations. The automatic stack lift and stack drop make it possible to
do chain calculations without the necessity of keying in parentheses or storing
intermediate results. An intermediate result in the X-register is automatically
copied into the Y-register when a number is keyed in after a function key is
pressed.
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Virtually every chain calculation you are likely to encounter can be done using
only the four stack registers. To avoid having to store an intermediate result in a
storage register, you should begin every chain calculation at the innermost
number or pair of parentheses and then work outward—just as you would if you
were doing the calculation with pencil and paper. For example, consider the
calculation of 3 [4 + 5 (6 + 7)]
Keystrokes Display
6v7+
13.0000
Intermediate result of
(6 + 7).
5*
65.0000
Intermediate result of
5 (6 + 7).
4+
69.0000
Intermediate result of
[4 + 5(6 + 7)].
3*
207.0000
Final result:
3 [4 + 5 (6 + 7)].
As you can see, we worked through the problem one operation at a time. The
stack automatically dropped after each two-number calculation. And, after each
calculation, the stack automatically lifted when a new number was keyed in.
The next example illustrates this.
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Except for v , `, z, and w.