RPN family · Pro

RPN Power 48 quick reference

RPN Power 48 is a programmable calculator built on RPL, a stack language: you put objects on a stack (numbers, lists, vectors, names, programs) and commands work on the top levels. It keeps an unlimited stack, does symbolic algebra (derivatives, integrals, solving) and runs programs written between « and ». Six soft keys along the top choose commands from the open menu.

Main screen: Press ON to cancel what you are typing, then use the stack view. Open the MODE or VAR menu any time; the stack is always shown above the menu row. · Shift layer: ◀ / ▶ · Second layer: α

Open in Trident

Keys

Menus and screens

APPS

The key opens a list of the submenus: MTH, PRG, SYMB, MATRX, LIST, STACK, STR, CPLX, TEST, MODE, BASE and VAR. Press a soft key to open one.

Soft menus and NXT

A menu shows six labels at a time, one per soft key (F1-F6). NXT shows the next page and left-shift NXT the previous page.

MODE

Choose STD, FIX, SCI or ENG number display, DEG, RAD or GRAD angles, RECT or POLAR for complex numbers, and the number base.

VAR

Lists the variables you have stored. Press a soft key to run or recall a variable; with a name on the stack, STO stores a value in it.

TOOL

Quick edit, view, recall, store, purge and clear commands for the object on level 1.

SYMB, MATRX, LIST

Algebra tools (derivative, integral, solve, expand, factor), matrix tools and list tools for the objects on the stack.

Modes and settings

Display format

In the MODE menu pick STD, FIX, SCI or ENG. FIX, SCI and ENG take the number of digits from the stack.

Angle mode

DEG, RAD or GRAD in the MODE menu. The status line at the top shows the current one; the default is radians.

Complex numbers

Type (re, im) or use R→C. RECT and POLAR choose how complex numbers are shown.

Number base

HEX, DEC, OCT and BIN change how binary integers (written with #) are shown.

Alpha entry

Press the alpha key once for one letter, twice to lock letters on, and a third time to switch off.

Tips

• RPL order: put the numbers on the stack first, then the command. For 3 + 4 press 3 ENTER 4 +.
• Separate objects with ENTER or a space (the SPC key). Each ENTER runs what is on the command line.
• ENTER on an empty line copies level 1 (DUP); the back arrow on an empty line removes it (DROP).
• A name must be in single quotes. Use the quote key, then alpha and letters, to type one.
• Made a mistake? Left-shift HIST is UNDO, and right-shift HIST brings back the arguments of the last command.
• Store with a name: type the value, then the name in quotes, then STO.

Guides for this calculator

• Find a square rootGet the square root of a number, exactly or as a decimal.
• Set degrees or radiansTell the calculator whether angles are measured in degrees or radians before you use sin, cos or tan.
• Find sine, cosine and tangentGet sin, cos or tan of an angle, here sin 50, cos 50 and tan 50 in degrees.
• Find an angle from a ratioUse the inverse trig functions (sin⁻¹, cos⁻¹, tan⁻¹) to turn a ratio back into an angle.
• Convert between degrees and radiansChange an angle from degrees to radians and back with the calculator.
• Solve a right triangleFind a missing side from the hypotenuse and an angle, and a missing angle from two sides.
• Use the law of sinesFind a side of any triangle when you know the opposite angle of another side and its length.
• Use the law of cosinesFind the third side of a triangle when you know two sides and the angle between them.
• Secant, cosecant and cotangentGet sec, csc and cot by taking the reciprocal of cos, sin and tan.
• Convert between polar and rectangularTurn a point (x, y) into a distance r and an angle θ.
• Work with logarithmsFind log base 10 of a number and undo it with 10 to a power.
• Natural logs and the number eUse ln and eˣ, the natural log and its inverse, based on e ≈ 2.71828.
• Logarithm with any baseFind a log such as log base 2 of 20 by dividing two natural logs.
• Exponential growthFind what a quantity grows to at a fixed percentage rate, and how long it takes to double.
• Complex numbersMultiply complex numbers like (3 + 4i)(1 − 2i) and find a size (modulus) such as |3 + 4i|.
• Enter and multiply matricesStore the matrix [[1, 2], [3, 4]] and multiply it by itself.
• Matrix determinant and inverseFind the determinant and inverse of [[1, 2], [3, 4]].
• Sum a sequence or seriesAdd up the first terms of a sequence, such as 1 + 3 + 5 + … + 19, which comes to 100.
• Differentiate with a formula answerGet the derivative as an expression in x, not just a number at one point.
• Factor and expand expressionsTurn x² − 5x + 6 into (x − 2)(x − 3), or multiply brackets out, using the algebra commands.
• Solve an equation exactlyGet exact answers, like x = 2 or x = 3, instead of decimals, using symbolic solve.
• Integrate on an RPN calculatorWrite a short program for your function, then integrate it between two limits.
• Find the mean, median and modeWork out the average (mean), the middle value (median) and the most common value (mode) of a list.
• Count arrangements and selections (nPr and nCr)Count how many ways to arrange or choose items from a group.
• Calculate a factorialMultiply a whole number by every whole number below it, such as 6! = 720.
• Sort a list from smallest to largestPut the numbers in a list in order, which makes the median and mode easy to spot.
• How the RPN stack worksEnter numbers first, then the operation. Learn what ENTER, swap and the stack do.
• Write a program in RPLPut commands between « and » brackets, name the program with STO and run it from the VAR menu.
• Stack commands: DUP, SWAP and DROPCopy, reorder and remove items on the Power 48 stack.