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RPN Power 48 manual · Chapter 5 of 19

Everyday calculations

Arithmetic, negative numbers, powers, roots, percent, constants and display of results.

5.1Add, subtract, multiply and divide#

The two operands are on levels 2 and 1. Level 2 is the first number, level 1 the second: 10 ENTER 4 − gives 6 and 20 ENTER 5 ÷ gives 4.

Example 5.1

Divide 20 by 5

20÷5=420\div5=4
  1. Type 20, ENTER, 5, then divide.

    20ENTER5÷
Result of the example "Divide 20 by 5" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                              4.
You should see1: 4
Example 5.2

Subtract: 10 minus 4

  1. Type 10, ENTER, 4, then subtract.

    10ENTER4−
Result of the example "Subtract: 10 minus 4" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                              6.
You should see1: 6
Example 5.3

One third

  1. Divide 1 by 3. Results show 12 digits.

    1ENTER3÷
Result of the example "One third" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                  .333333333333.
You should see.333333333333

5.2Negative numbers and changing the sign#

Type the digits, then press +/− to make the number negative. When there is no command line, +/− changes the sign of level 1.

Example 5.4

Enter a negative number and add

  1. Type 5, +/−, ENTER, 3 and +.

    5+/−ENTER3+
Result of the example "Enter a negative number and add" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             -2.
You should see1: -2
Example 5.5

Change the sign of a result

  1. Subtract 3 from 8, then press +/−.

    8ENTER3−+/−
Result of the example "Change the sign of a result" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             -5.
You should see1: -5

5.3Square, square root, power, reciprocal and roots#

√x takes the square root, left shift √x squares, yˣ raises level 2 to the power in level 1, left shift ÷ is the reciprocal and right shift √x is XROOT, which takes the x-th root.

yx,x,yxy^{x},\quad \sqrt{x},\quad \sqrt[x]{y}
Example 5.6

2 to the power 10

210=10242^{10}=1024
  1. Type 2, ENTER, 10, press the power key.

    2ENTER10yˣ
Result of the example "2 to the power 10" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                           1024.
You should see1: 1024
Example 5.7

Square root of 144

  1. Type 144 and press the root key.

    144√x
Result of the example "Square root of 144" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             12.
You should see1: 12
Example 5.8

Square of 5

  1. Type 5, left shift, root key.

    5◀x²√x
Result of the example "Square of 5" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             25.
You should see1: 25
Example 5.9

Reciprocal of 2

  1. Type 2, left shift, divide.

    2◀1/x÷
Result of the example "Reciprocal of 2" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             .5.
You should see1: .5
Example 5.10

Cube root of 27

273=3\sqrt[3]{27}=3
  1. Type 27, ENTER, 3 and press right shift root key (XROOT).

    27ENTER3▶ˣ√y√x
Result of the example "Cube root of 27" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                              3.
You should see1: 3

5.4Calculate a percentage#

Right shift × is %: level 1 percent of level 2. Both numbers are used up and only the percentage is left, so copy the base number with ENTER first if you still need it. The MTH menu also has %T (what percent one number is of another) and %CH (percent change from one number to another).

%(y,x)=y⋅x100\%(y,x)=\frac{y\cdot x}{100}
Example 5.11

15 percent of 200

  1. Type 200, ENTER, 15, then right shift multiply.

    200ENTER15▶%×
Result of the example "15 percent of 200" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             30.
You should see1: 30
Example 5.12

Add 15 percent

200+0.15×200=230200+0.15\times200=230
  1. Copy the 200 first with ENTER, take the percentage of the copy, then add.

    200ENTERENTER15▶%×+
Result of the example "Add 15 percent" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                            230.
You should see1: 230
Example 5.13

What percent is 30 of 200?

  1. Open MTH, go to page 2 and press %T (fifth key).

    200ENTER30◀MTHAPPSNXTF5
Result of the example "What percent is 30 of 200?" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             15 /  MOD   MIN  MAX    %    %T   %CH .
You should see1: 15
Example 5.14

Percent change from 50 to 60

  1. Press %CH (sixth key on MTH page 2).

    50ENTER60◀MTHAPPSNXTF6
Result of the example "Percent change from 50 to 60" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             20 /  MOD   MIN  MAX    %    %T   %CH .
You should see1: 20

5.5Pi, e and i#

Right shift TAN puts π\pi on the stack, right shift 2 puts e, and left shift 2 puts the imaginary unit i. Pi and e stay symbolic (shown as π and e) until you convert them. Left shift EVAL (→NUM) turns them into decimal numbers.

Example 5.15

The value of pi

  1. Press right shift TAN, then left shift EVAL.

    ▶πTAN◀→NUMEVAL
Result of the example "The value of pi" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                  3.14159265359.
You should see1: 3.14159265359
Example 5.16

Area of a circle of radius 5

A=πr2A=\pi r^{2}
  1. Type 5, square it, push pi and multiply, then convert to a number.

    5◀x²√x▶πTAN×◀→NUMEVAL
Result of the example "Area of a circle of radius 5" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                  78.5398163397.
You should see1: 78.5398163397

See also Convert between polar and rectangular

5.6Evaluate and approximate#

EVAL runs the object on level 1: it evaluates an expression, runs a program, and looks up a name. →NUM (left shift EVAL) evaluates and converts to decimals.

Example 5.17

Evaluate an expression with a stored variable

  1. Store 3 in x.

    3'αα◀1/x÷αENTERSTO▶
  2. Type the expression x squared plus 1 and press EVAL.

    'αα◀1/x÷αTyˣ2+1ENTEREVAL
Result of the example "Evaluate an expression with a stored variable" The display shows: RAD                      { HOME } / 6: / 5: / 4: / 3: / 2: / 1:                             10 /   x                              .
You should see1: 10

5.7Look back at earlier calculations#

The app records calculations in the History panel, with what you entered and the top of the stack. For reuse inside the calculator, use HIST, LASTARG and UNDO.

See also See your past calculations in HistoryReuse an earlier result

HP 48 and HP 50g is a trademark of HP Inc.. Trident Calculator is an independent product by South View Studios and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by HP. The name is used only to describe the kind of calculator this model resembles; Trident's names, keys, display, fonts and software are its own clean-room design.