The asterisk is used to tell
the
computer
to
multi
plynumbers.
In
everydaywriting, we use the
letterx
to
represent multiplication. Humans,
therefore,
understand
the
statement
4x2
= 8.
But
to
the
computer
the
letter x is
just
that—a
letter x. The
computer
can't
tell
whether
we
want
x
to
represent
the
letter x,or
whether
we
want
x
to
represent multiplication. So
the
com
puter uses the asteriskfor multiplication instead.
Press
ENTER
to
start
on
a
new
line.
Then
type
PRINT
4*2
and
your
problem appears on
the
screen.
SCREEN
2
Then press the
ENTER
key Theanswer
(8)
appears on your screen, as the computer calcu
lates
the
product
of 4 x 2.
SCREEN
3
The special function of
the
8/* key is indicated
on
the
labeljust above the 8/* key The REDO
command
is used only with certain
software
packages (or in
BASIC
programming); ifyou
press
the
REDOkey now,
the
computer will
not
respond
at
all.
Before starting
the
next exercise,
type
CALL
CLEAR
and
press
ENTER
to
clear
the
screen.
119
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