1/x button on calculators.

[simoncc]

The 1/x button is extremely useful and can be found on the simple version of the Microsft Windows calculator. Why do all the inexpensive, basic calculators that you can buy have % and square root buttons that hardly anyone uses but no 1/x button?

 

[Willow]

The 1/x button is extremely useful and can be found on the simple version of the Microsft Windows calculator. Why do all the inexpensive, basic calculators that you can buy have % and square root buttons that hardly anyone uses but no 1/x button?

I use the % button loads

 

[snapper_37]

I use the % button loads

+ 1

I wouldn't have a clue what the 1/x button is

 

[Arch]

+ 1

I wouldn't have a clue what the 1/x button is

If you want to find a fraction as a decimal, you type in the bottom number of the fraction, press 1/x and it gives you the decimal. IE, type in 2 for a half, followed by 1/x and you get 0.5

Most useful of course for the 'odder' fractions you don't know offhand.

 

[srw]

The 1/x button is only really useful to people who are reasonably numerate. Because of the politically-correct no-one-shall-fail teaching forced down our throats by successive generations of Nu-Labour ecohysteric politicians and reinforced by their lackies in the BBC and the UN no-one is numerate any more.

Gosh, this is fun!

 

[simoncc]

The 1/x button is most useful. If you finish a calcualtion and get the answer 5.987, then want to divide say 346 by that 5.987 you can simply divide the 5.987 by 346 then do 1/x and get the answer. Without the 1/x button you have to press many more buttons and perhaps even write intermediate answers down.

It really is a mystery why no basic, cheap calculators have it. Bill Gates puts it on his basic Windows calculator.

 

[Arch]

Now, now, I think Simon has a point here, although it had never occured to me before.

I suppose, now I think about it even more, if I needed to find a fraction, I'd just do 1 divided by the denominator. So actually that button is a bit superfluous.

Excellent, the one time I think he has a point, I talk myself out of it!

Percentages, I can always work out the long way round and I can never quite rmember how the button works anyway. The one button I couldn't work round is the square root button.

 

[Arch]

The 1/x button is most useful. If you finish a calcualtion and get the answer 5.987, then want to divide say 346 by that 5.987 you can simply divide the 5.987 by 346 then do 1/x and get the answer. Without the 1/x button you have to press many more buttons and perhaps even write intermediate answers down.

It really is a mystery why no basic, cheap calculators have it. Bill Gates puts it on his basic Windows calculator.

Oh, is that what it's for?

I think I'd do the writing down bit. How hard is that? But then I don't need a calculator all that often....

Why don't you produce such a calculator then? Surely, you're onto a winner if it's so useful? (although anyone with a windows computer already has one, I guess).

 

[srw]

The 1/x button is most useful. If you finish a calcualtion and get the answer 5.987, then want to divide say 346 by that 5.987 you can simply divide the 5.987 by 346 then do 1/x and get the answer. Without the 1/x button you have to press many more buttons and perhaps even write intermediate answers down.

It really is a mystery why no basic, cheap calculators have it. Bill Gates puts it on his basic Windows calculator.

I told you - it's a Nu-Labour UN BBC ecohysteric conspiracy.

I agree with you - I use it all the time. But that's because I understand the hierarchy of functions and have an intuitive grasp of what numbers do. Most people don't.

It's also possible to replicate the reciprocal function using memory functions. And of course to use a scientific calculator - they're no more expensive than cheapo jobs these days.

 

[bonj2]

if they've got the "x^y" button you can just go x^y -1

 

[Night Train]

The 1/x button is most useful. If you finish a calcualtion and get the answer 5.987, then want to divide say 346 by that 5.987 you can simply divide the 5.987 by 346 then do 1/x and get the answer. Without the 1/x button you have to press many more buttons and perhaps even write intermediate answers down.

It really is a mystery why no basic, cheap calculators have it. Bill Gates puts it on his basic Windows calculator.

That's what I use it most for and I use it quite a lot. I also use the root button quite often.

I don't use the % buttom much as different calculators use it in different ways. Some you have to press % before the number and others you have to press % after the number.

I generally only use scientific calculators by choice. They process using correct mathamatical rules. This is essential for complex and engineering calculations but can be slower to use for summing accounts.
Desktop calculators total the calculation for each step and that can sometime lead to different results with complex and engineering calculations but are quicker for summing accounts.

 

[Andy Pandy]

I might be a bit dim, but I don't follow this. The button only works if the numerator is 1. Most fractions do not have a numerator of 1 so the button is of no use. You just need to divide the bottom into the top (4 button pushes). Surely if you want to change 5.987/346 into a decimal you just divide.

 

[simoncc]

if they've got the "x^y" button you can just go x^y -1

Which is three button presses, not one.

The current largely unused and therefore pointless % and square root buttons on basic calculators of all brands seems to be standard now and has been for many years. I'd be interested to see what reasoning, if any, went into this decision.

I've also noticed that even many scientific calculators have the 1/x function as the secondary function on a key, so requiring two button presses, not one. This is odd as the 1/x function is easily the most common one I use after the four main ones and I can't be the only one to have found this.

 

[redjedi]

.....
The current largely unused and therefore pointless %....

I disagree, I use the % very regularly in my job, and although I could get by without it, I would be disapointed to see it disapear.

The 1/x button on the other hand, I have never used and from your example I can't see me ever using it, which must mean that that button is pointless

 

[tyred]

I use the 1/x button regularily if it's available on the calculator I'm using. I never use the % button though.