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Concept
Scientific calculator
Summary
A scientific calculator is an electronic calculator, either desktop or handheld, designed to perform calculations using basic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and complex (trigonometric, hyperbolic, etc.) mathematical operations and functions. They have completely replaced slide rules and are used in both educational and professional settings.
In some areas of study scientific calculators have been replaced by graphing calculators and financial calculators which have the capabilities of a scientific calculator along with the capability to graph input data and functions.
When electronic calculators were originally marketed they normally had only four or five capabilities (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and square root). Modern scientific calculators generally have many more capabilities than the original four or five function calculator, and the capabilities differ between manufacturers and models.
The capabilities of a modern scientific calculator include:
Scientific notation
Floating-point decimal arithmetic
Logarithmic functions, using both base 10 and base e
Trigonometric functions (some including hyperbolic trigonometry)
Exponential functions and roots beyond the square root
Quick access to constants such as pi and e
In addition, high-end scientific calculators generally include some or all of the following:
Cursor controls to edit equations and view previous calculations (some calculators such as the LCD-8310, badge engineered under both Olympia and United Office keep the number of the previous result on-screen for convenience while the new calculation is being entered.)
Hexadecimal, binary, and octal calculations, including basic Boolean mathematics
Complex numbers
Fractions calculations
Statistics and probability calculations
Programmability — see Programmable calculator
Equation solving
Matrix calculations
Calculus
Letters that can be used for spelling words or including variables into an equation
Conversion of units
Physical constants
While most scientific calculators have traditionally used a single-line display similar to traditional pocket calculators, many of them have more digits (10 to 12), sometimes with extra digits for the floating-point exponent.
Official source
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