B Calculator automatic rounding is screwing up my calculation.

AI Thread Summary
Calculator rounding can lead to unexpected results, as demonstrated by the division of 13.6 by values close to 1. The first calculation, 13.6/(1.000000001), yields 13.59999999 due to the calculator's finite precision. In contrast, 13.6/(1.0000000001) rounds to 13.6, despite the actual result being approximately 13.59999999864. This discrepancy occurs because calculators often display fewer digits than they compute internally. Understanding the limitations of calculator precision is essential for accurate calculations.
Lebombo
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Hi,

When I type into my calculator 13.6/(1.000000001)
the calculator returns the answer 13.59999999

Then, when I type 13.6/(1.0000000001)
the calculator returns the answer 13.6.

Obviously, both 13.6/(1.0000000001) and 13.6/1 cannot equal 13.6,

so what's the deal with the calculator returning the wrong answer?
 
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The calculator has a finite precision for displaying digits, it rounds 13.6/(1.0000000001) = 13.59999999864 (approximately) to 13.6. Try subtracting 13.6 from the result, often calculators have internally one or two more digits than they show.
 
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