Using your scientific calculator

You will need to use a scientific calculator in your module. Unfortunately, different calculators operate in slightly different ways, so this activity cannot provide comprehensive instructions on how to use your calculator. However, at key points where you need to be able to use your calculator for a specific purpose, we have provided some guidelines as to the most likely buttons to use. These guidelines, combined with the manufacturer’s operating instructions, should enable you to use your calculator effectively, and you should check that you can do this when advised to do so. You may wish to use the calculator on your computer. Make sure that you can run it, know how to switch it between ‘standard’ and ‘scientific’ mode, and use it while looking at this material on the screen. Hopefully these examples will help you to see how to use your calculator effectively, for these and other questions you encounter.

If you find that you are not able to use your calculator to get the result given in this activity or other module resources, you should contact your tutor or study adviser as soon as possible.