Tips and tricks

Here is a collection of useful hints.

• Change operator: if you typed an operator, and suddenly realize that you should have typed another, you can change just pushing the operator you want. If you accidentally pushed +, but wanted -, just push - and see that the formula change accordingly in the formula view. If you have wrote something more before you discover the fault, the edit key let you edit your formula in any way you want.
• If you want a negative number after an operator, you can use the "+/-" button after entering the last number, like writing 2* -2: push "2", "*", "2", "+/-". Pushing the regular "-" button after the "*" will only change the operator, as in the paragraph above.
• Shortcuts: if you want a formula such as 2*(...), enter 2 and then (; the multiplication operator is inserted automatically. Likewise, entering 2 followed by a variable becomes 2*x. Explicit multiplication avoids ambiguity because variables may contain several characters.
• A complex formula may be easier to enter directly in Edit mode. Frequently used formulas can be copied from notes and pasted into the edit field. The result is the same because the formula text is the calculation's source.
• Formula and result text can be selected and copied into another document. The result display and help drawer also contain selectable text.
• The e and EE keys have different purposes. e is Euler's constant, approximately 2.71828. EE enters scientific notation: 2E3 is 2000 and 2E-3 is 0.002.
• In a calculation sheet, use Auto, Sci, or Eng to choose automatic, scientific, or engineering notation. Engineering notation uses exponents divisible by three.
• Check the formula field before trusting a result, and make a rough mental estimate when practical. An unexpected order of magnitude often reveals an input or unit error.