Using a Calculator

[Matlynn Giles 2E]

Not sure if anyone's run into this problem but I'd thought I would share because it continuely happens to me. By using parantheses on everything you insert into your calculator, it really prevents errors. Especially in terms of determining if an exponenet should be negative or positive

[Megan Sparrow 1A]

Another good tip for scientific calculators is to set it SCI mode. Usually, the default is on FLO, but SCI shows results in scientific notation which saves time from homework and test questions. I believe our week 0 sapling optional homework noted this.

[Joseph Hsing 2C]

Pressing 2nd then comma is also a shortcut for *10^ this helps save a lot of time for me.

[Q Scarborough 1b]

You can also store constants in your calculator which I find very helpful. That way you do not have to type out long numbers like planks constant or avogadro's number. Just type the number, push sto-> and any letter. Then use that letter the same way you would the number going forward.

[Sana Nagori 2H]

so true. I kept getting a question wrong on Sapling for the longest time before realizing my numbers were not in parentheses.

[Hannah Chang 3K]

Upon reading the comments, I took out the instruction manual of my scientific calculator and realized it has forty built-in scientific constants and does SI conversion.....and there I was, typing stuffs wrong.

[Faith Lee 2L]

I want to add that for most calculators, you can scroll up to previous calculations and click "enter" for your calculator to bring up a certain value. It's really helpful for empirical formula problems where you calculate the mole value for multiple elements and then have to go back and divide each value by the lowest value. This way, you don't have to type out every value all over again :)

[ShinwooKim_3E]

Not sure if anyone's run into this problem but I'd thought I would share because it continuely happens to me. By using parantheses on everything you insert into your calculator, it really prevents errors. Especially in terms of determining if an exponenet should be negative or positive

I remember getting 10 points docked off for my chemistry final in high school because I forgot to use parentheses when using the calculator :')

[Kathy_Li_1H]

I also want to mention that it's important to pay attention to the number of paratheses you have because sometimes it can result in syntax errors.

[Gicelle Rubin 1E]

Yes!! If I don't add parenthesis in some occasions, it gives me a totally wrong exponent and it messes everything up!

[Gicelle Rubin 1E]

Another good tip for scientific calculators is to set it SCI mode. Usually, the default is on FLO, but SCI shows results in scientific notation which saves time from homework and test questions. I believe our week 0 sapling optional homework noted this.

I didn't know this was a feature! Thank you for this information!!