Math Is Fun Forum

paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 136

How to change the answer on your calculator to the denominator for...

...the next calculation?

You perform a calculation

Your answer is 4.5... (long awkward number)

You now want to divide 5 by 4.5...

Is there a shortcut (rather than noting down the long awkward number, and typing in 5 divided by the long awkward number)?

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,172

Re: How to change the answer on your calculator to the denominator for...

You may have a reciprocal button (1/x)

If you enter 2 then press the button you'll get 0.5  If you do it again you'll get back to 2.

So do the long calc (say it's y) ; press reciprocal; times by 5. That's equivalent to doing 5/y

If you haven't got that button then an alternative is store y in memory, then do 5 divide by memory recall.

Bob

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Children are not defined by school ...........The Fonz
You cannot teach a man anything;  you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob

paulb203

Member

Registered: 2023-02-24

Posts: 136

Re: How to change the answer on your calculator to the denominator for...

Thanks, Bob