Using GNOME Calculator

GNOME Calculator Manual
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# Using `GNOME Calculator`

`GNOME Calculator` can be used to perform any of the calculations that you would normally use a scientific calculator or slide-rule for, or to replace the trigonometric and logarithmic tables generally found in the appendix of science textbooks. It is intended as a GNOME replacement for `xcalc`.

## Basic usage

Starting `GNOME Calculator` opens the Main window, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. `GNOME Calculator` Main Window

To perform calculations, type in the numbers using the number keys on your keyboard, or use the 0 through 9 buttons on the main window, and the operator buttons surrounding them.

## Menus

The menu bar, located at the top of the Main Window, contains the following menus:

File

  Quit (Ctl-Q) which exits from `GNOME Calculator`.

Edit

  Edit (Ctl-C) which copies the current display.

Help

  About — shows basic information about `GNOME Calculator`, such as the author's name and the application version number.

## Buttons

The buttons, located on the Main Window, are as follows:

1/x

  Inverts the current display.

  Example 1. 1/x

  When `10` is displayed, pressing 1/x will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `0.1`.

x^2

  Raises the current display to the second power.

  Example 2. x^2

  When `5` is displayed, pressing x^2 will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `25`.

SQRT

  Calculates the square root.

  Example 3. SQRT

  When `81` is displayed, pressing SQRT will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `9`.

CE/C

  This button clears the display.

AC

  This button clears the display and all queued commands.

INV

  The INV is used to "invert" some operations in `GNOME Calculator`.

  Example 4. INV

  The INV can be used to compute the arcsine of a number. If the display shows `1`, pressing INV, followed by sin, yields a result of `90`, assuming that the units display is set on `DEG`.

sin

  Computes the trigonometric sine. The units used are displayed on the second button down on the right column of buttons.

  Example 5. sin

  When the display shows `90` and the units display shows `DEG` pressing sin will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `1`.

cos

  Computes the trigonometric cosine, or compliment's sine. The units used are displayed on the second button down on the right column of buttons.

  Example 6. cos

  When the display shows `60` and the units display shows `DEG`, pressing cos will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `.5`.

tan

  Computes the trigonometric tangent.

  Example 7. tan

  When the display shows `45` and the units display shows `DEG`, pressing tan will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `1`.

DEG/RAD/GRAD

  Displays and changes the units of angle measure

e

  Uses the irrational number e for the next argument. The number displayed is not necessarily the same as used for calculations.

EE

  Multiplies the current display by 10 to the power of the next number entered.

  Example 8. EE

  Clicking `8` and then EE and then `3` and then `=` would display `8000`.

log

  Calculates the logarithm base 10 of the display.

  Example 9. log

  Entering `1000` and pressing log yields a result of `3`.

ln

  Calculates the natual logarithm (base e) of the display.

  Example 10. ln

  Entering `403.4287935` and pressing ln causes `GNOME Calculator` to display `6`.

x^y

  Raises the number in the display to the power of the next number entered.

  Example 11. x^y

  With `5` in the display, pressing x^y and then entering `3` will yield a result of `125`.

PI

  Enters the irrational number Pi into the display.

x!

  Calculates the factorial of the number in the display.

  Example 12. x!

  Entering `7` in the display and pressing x! will cause `GNOME Calculator` to display `5040`.

()

  Parenthesis can be used to group operations, overriding the default order of operations for mathematics.

/*+-

  These buttons let you perform the basic arethemetic operations of division /, multiplication *, addition +, and subtraction -.

STORCL

  The STO is used to store the display into the calculators memory.

RCL

  The RCL is used to recall the stored value from memory.

0123456789

  These buttons are used to input the numeric characters 0 through 9, for use in calculations.

SUM

  Adds the displayed number to the number stored in `GNOME Calculator's` memory. This will act the same as the STO when the calculator's memory is empty, or zero.

EXC

  Swaps the values in the display an memory.

  Example 13. EXC

  First, store `12` into memory. Then, enter `56`, and press EXC. You should now see `12` in the display. Press CE/C followed by RCL, and `GNOME Calculator` will display `12`.

.

  The . is used to delimit between whole numbers, and fractional, or decimal, numbers while using `GNOME Calculator`.

+/-

  The +/- is used to change the sign of the number displayed from positive to negative, or vice versa.

=

  The = is used to tell `GNOME Calculator` to perform the currently pending operations. This command can also be invoked using the Enter or Return key on the keyboard.

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