Windows ships with two calculators. The normal one and a scientific one that can be enabled in the View menu of the calculator. The normal calculator offers basic functionality while the scientific one adds functionality that most users do not need. The normal calculator in Windows uses a small window which appeals to many users.
It does have however a huge problem that can lead to false results. Open the calculator and calculate 2+3*5 for me and take a look at the result. It displays 25 which is unfortunately not the correct result. The correct result should be 17 instead.
It does seem that the basic Windows calculator does not know the rule that multiplications are calculated before additions. Now change to the scientific calculator and enter the same calculation again. It should bring up the correct result of 17.
I’m not sure why Microsoft decided to get rid of this basic math rule but it means for me that I will never again use the basic calculator but only the scientific one even for the most basic calculations.
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This is what you should expect from a basic calculator. They don’t have enough memory to store an equation and so every time you press an operator they compute what’s before. So it is upon you to calculate 3*5 before adding 2. If I have to calculate complex expressions I prefer to use the PowerToy Calc, in wich I can see the whole equation and check if there is something wrong. By the way, if you want to make percentage calculations using the % operator, you should use the standard calculator.
3*5+2 works, just use some maths :P
“The order of the factors, does not change the product.”
WTF….. are we complaining just to complain at this point???
2+3 = 5
*5 = 25
that is correct.. NOT 17.
the BASIC calculator can only preform one calculation at a time (not two).
you should of typed
3*5 = 15
+2 = 17
The rule for multiplying first comes from
BODMAS,as calculation should be done in following these steps:
BO: Brackets Off
D:Divsion
M:Multiplication
A:Addition
S:Subtraction
you are so right sQrl that person is tryna sound smart but don’t know what the hell he or she sayin before you want to act smart fenix try it 3*5+2 all together on a basic calaulator and see what you get
The one that always catches me out:
500 x 5% = 12500