Prev: SFC /Scannow error fixed (Windows 7)
Next: Install Equation Editor on Toolbar
From: Nathan Sokalski on 9 Feb 2010 12:49
When using the Windows 7 Calculator in Scientific mode, how can I make it
display the answer as a fraction? If I remember correctly, the calculator in
previous versions of Windows allowed you to view the answer as a fraction,
and I have never in my life seen a scientific calculator that doesn't let
you use fractions. Am I missing something, or are fractions just not yet a
feature of the Windows 7 Calculator? Thanks.
--
Nathan Sokalski
njsokalski(a)hotmail.com
http://www.nathansokalski.com/

From: Robert Aldwinckle on 10 Feb 2010 00:21


"Nathan Sokalski" <njsokalski(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7FF04CA5-4617-47AA-AE9C-90E1CB3509AE(a)microsoft.com...
> When using the Windows 7 Calculator in Scientific mode, how can I make it
> display the answer as a fraction? If I remember correctly, the calculator
> in previous versions of Windows allowed you to view the answer as a
> fraction, and I have never in my life seen a scientific calculator that
> doesn't let you use fractions. Am I missing something, or are fractions
> just not yet a feature of the Windows 7 Calculator? Thanks.


Are you sure you aren't in the Programmer mode instead? (Alt-3).
In Scientific mode (Alt-2)) I just typed 3 and clicked on the 1/x button
to get 0.33333333333333333333333333333333
Looks like a third to me. ; )





From: Nathan Sokalski on 10 Feb 2010 00:48
Do you know the difference between a fraction and decimal? Your value,
0.33333333333333333333333333333333, is equal to
33333333333333333333333333333333/100000000000000000000000000000000, NOT 1/3.
I am looking to get a value equal to 1/3. These two values may be
approximately the same, but there are two main reasons to need or want to
have answers displayed as fractions. First, there is precision. For example,
if a fraction has a large numerator and/or denominator or when doing actual
calculations with the fractions, keeping it in fraction form may be
necessary to get the correct answer. Second, there is convenience and
preference. For example, when working with certain units (such as inches),
you normally write the value as 5/32 rather than 0.15625. Yes, you are
correct that if I saw the value 0.33333333333333333333333333333333
displayed, I would ASSUME that the answer was 1/3, but that is simply an
assumption, I don't actually KNOW that that was what the answer really
should have been. Fractions are usually one of the most frequently used
features of scientific calculators, and like I said in my original post, I
have never in my life seen a scientific calculator that does not support
them (until now!).
--
Nathan Sokalski
njsokalski(a)hotmail.com
http://www.nathansokalski.com/

"Robert Aldwinckle" <robald(a)techemail.com> wrote in message
news:OpQRzDhqKHA.1936(a)TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
>
> "Nathan Sokalski" <njsokalski(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:7FF04CA5-4617-47AA-AE9C-90E1CB3509AE(a)microsoft.com...
>> When using the Windows 7 Calculator in Scientific mode, how can I make it
>> display the answer as a fraction? If I remember correctly, the calculator
>> in previous versions of Windows allowed you to view the answer as a
>> fraction, and I have never in my life seen a scientific calculator that
>> doesn't let you use fractions. Am I missing something, or are fractions
>> just not yet a feature of the Windows 7 Calculator? Thanks.
>
>
> Are you sure you aren't in the Programmer mode instead? (Alt-3).
> In Scientific mode (Alt-2)) I just typed 3 and clicked on the 1/x
> button
> to get 0.33333333333333333333333333333333
> Looks like a third to me. ; )
>
>
>
>
>
From: Steve Foster on 10 Feb 2010 10:30
Nathan Sokalski wrote:

>When using the Windows 7 Calculator in Scientific mode, how can I make it
>display the answer as a fraction? If I remember correctly, the calculator
>in previous versions of Windows allowed you to view the answer as a
>fraction, and I have never in my life seen a scientific calculator that
>doesn't let you use fractions. Am I missing something, or are fractions
>just not yet a feature of the Windows 7 Calculator? Thanks.

I think you're mistaken in your belief that the Windows Calculator has
ever shown fractions.

I don't see anything in it in XP, Vista or W7 that would enable fractions.

I don't regard Calculator programs as "scientific calculators" (those are
small devices commonly purchased by students).

--
Steve Foster
------------
Please reply only to the newsgroups.
For SSL Certificates, Domains, etc, visit.: https://netshop.virtual-isp.net
From: Nathan Sokalski on 10 Feb 2010 18:00
You may be right that XP and Vista didn't have fractions (I don't always
remember correctly), but the Windows 7 Calculator is definitely SUPPOSED to
be regarded as a scientific calculator. If you look at the options under the
View menu, one of the choices is "Scientific". As far as I can tell, it has
all the basic features of a scientific calculator other than fractions,
which in my mind is the most important feature of scientific calculators.
You would think that if they are willing to add all the features and modes
that they did, they would think to add fractions.
--
Nathan Sokalski
njsokalski(a)hotmail.com
http://www.nathansokalski.com/

"Steve Foster" <steve.foster(a)picamar.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xn0gq89fzw4oigz01v(a)msnews.microsoft.com...
> Nathan Sokalski wrote:
>
>>When using the Windows 7 Calculator in Scientific mode, how can I make it
>>display the answer as a fraction? If I remember correctly, the calculator
>>in previous versions of Windows allowed you to view the answer as a
>>fraction, and I have never in my life seen a scientific calculator that
>>doesn't let you use fractions. Am I missing something, or are fractions
>>just not yet a feature of the Windows 7 Calculator? Thanks.
>
> I think you're mistaken in your belief that the Windows Calculator has
> ever shown fractions.
>
> I don't see anything in it in XP, Vista or W7 that would enable fractions.
>
> I don't regard Calculator programs as "scientific calculators" (those are
> small devices commonly purchased by students).
>
> --
> Steve Foster
> ------------
> Please reply only to the newsgroups.
> For SSL Certificates, Domains, etc, visit.:
> https://netshop.virtual-isp.net

 |  Next  |  Last
Pages: 1 2 3
Prev: SFC /Scannow error fixed (Windows 7)
Next: Install Equation Editor on Toolbar