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Classic Scientific 30 manual · Chapter 3 of 13

Calculations and history

Arithmetic, order of operations, powers, percent, scientific notation, the last answer and history.

3.1Order of operations and brackets#

brackets→powers→× ÷→+ −\text{brackets} \to \text{powers} \to \times\ \div \to +\ -
The order the calculator follows.

The calculator follows the usual rules: brackets first, then powers, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction. Use ( and ) to force a different order. A closing bracket is optional at the very end of a line.

Example 3.1

Use brackets to change the order

  1. Add first by putting the sum in brackets, then square the result.

    (3+4)x²enter
Result of the example "Use brackets to change the order" The display shows: (3+4)² / 49.
You should see(3+4)² 49
Example 3.2

A negative number squared

  1. Without brackets only the 3 is squared and then made negative.

    (−)3x²enter
Result of the example "A negative number squared" The display shows: -3² / -9.
You should see-3² -9
Example 3.3

Bracket a negative base

  1. With brackets the whole negative number is squared.

    ((−)3)x²enter
Result of the example "Bracket a negative base" The display shows: (-3)² / 9.
You should see(-3)² 9

See also Use brackets to control the order

3.2Square, cube, reciprocal and other powers#

x2,x3,x−1=1x,xnx^2,\quad x^3,\quad x^{-1}=\frac{1}{x},\quad x^{n}
The power keys.

Use x² for a square, 2ndx³) for a cube and x⁻¹ for a reciprocal. For any other power, press ^: a box appears for the exponent. Type the exponent and press ▶ to leave the box before you carry on.

Example 3.4

Power of ten with a box

  1. Type 2, press the power key, type 10, press the right arrow to leave the exponent, then add 1.

    2^10▶+1enter
Result of the example "Power of ten with a box" The display shows: 2^(10)+1 / 1025.
You should see2 to the power 10 plus 1 is 1025.
Example 3.5

Stacked powers

  1. Powers stack from the top down, so 2^3^2 means 2^(3^2).

    2^3▶^2enter
Result of the example "Stacked powers" The display shows: 2^3^2 / 512.
You should see2^3^2 512
Example 3.6

Cube a number

  1. Type 6 then 2nd and the right bracket key (x³).

    62ndx³)enter
Result of the example "Cube a number" The display shows: 6³ / 216.
You should see6³ 216
Example 3.7

Reciprocal

  1. The reciprocal of 4 is shown as a fraction.

    4x⁻¹enter
Result of the example "Reciprocal" The display shows: 4⁻¹ / 1/4.
You should see4⁻¹ 1/4

See also Powers and exponents

3.3Work with percent#

n%=n100n\% = \frac{n}{100}
What the percent key does.

The percent key 2nd%( divides the number before it by 100. To find a percent of something, multiply.

Example 3.8

Find 15% of 200

  1. Type 200 times 15 then the percent sign.

    200×152nd%(enter
Result of the example "Find 15% of 200" The display shows: 200×15% / 30.
You should see200×15% 30
Example 3.9

Percent on its own

  1. 5% is five hundredths.

    52nd%(enter
Result of the example "Percent on its own" The display shows: 5% / 1/20.
You should see5% 1/20

See also Find a percentage of a number

3.4Enter numbers in scientific notation#

a×10na\times 10^{n}
Scientific notation: the EE key types the times-ten-to-the-power part.

Press ×10ⁿ for "times ten to the power". A box opens for the exponent. Use (−) inside the box for a negative exponent. Very large or very small answers switch to scientific notation by themselves.

Example 3.10

Avogadro style number

  1. Type 6.02, the EE key, then 23.

    6.02×10ⁿ23enter
Result of the example "Avogadro style number" The display shows: 6.02ᴇ23 / 6.02E23.
You should see6.02ᴇ23 6.02E23
Example 3.11

A negative exponent

  1. 2 times ten to the minus 3 is a small fraction, shown exactly.

    2×10ⁿ(−)3enter
Result of the example "A negative exponent" The display shows: 2ᴇ-3 / 1/500.
You should see2ᴇ-3 1/500
Example 3.12

A big product

  1. A product with more than ten digits switches to scientific notation.

    1234567890×1000enter
Result of the example "A big product" The display shows: 1234567890×1000 / 1.23456789E12.
You should see1.23456789E12

See also Enter very big and very small numbersShow answers in engineering notation

3.5Use the last answer (Ans)#

Start a new line with an operator such as +, −, ×, ÷, a power, x², x³ or x⁻¹ and the calculator puts Ans (the last answer) in front for you. You can also paste it anywhere with 2ndans(−).

Example 3.13

Keep going from the last answer

  1. Work out 2 + 3. Then press times and 4: Ans is added for you.

    2+3enter×4enter
Result of the example "Keep going from the last answer" The display shows: 5 / Ans×4 / 20.
You should seeAns×4 20
Example 3.14

Paste Ans in the middle

  1. Work out 2 + 3, then use 2nd and (−) to put Ans into a new sum.

    2+3enter2ndans(−)+1enter
Result of the example "Paste Ans in the middle" The display shows: 5 / Ans+1 / 6.
You should seeAns+1 6
Example 3.15

Square the last answer

  1. After 2 + 3 press the square key. The new line starts with Ans.

    2+3enterx²enter
Result of the example "Square the last answer" The display shows: 5 / Ans² / 25.
You should seeAns² 25
Example 3.16

Repeat the last entry

  1. Pressing enter on an empty line repeats the previous entry.

    2+3enterenter
Result of the example "Repeat the last entry" The display shows: 5 / 2+3 / 5.
You should see2+3

See also Reuse the last answer

3.6Look back at earlier entries (history)#

Press ▲ on an empty line to highlight the most recent earlier entry. Keep pressing ▲ to go further back and ▼ to come forward. Press enter to copy the highlighted entry to the entry line, where you can edit it and run it again. clear leaves history without copying.

Example 3.17

Bring back an old entry

  1. Do two sums. Then press up twice and enter to copy the first sum back.

    1+1enter2+2enter▲▲enter
Result of the example "Bring back an old entry" The display shows: 2 / 2+2 / 4 / 1+1.
You should see1+1

See also See your past calculations in HistoryReuse an earlier result

TI-30XS MultiView is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated. Trident Calculator is an independent product by South View Studios and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Texas Instruments. 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.