TI-30X Pro - Decimals Rounding issue

  • Context: Calculators 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Sakitumi
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the rounding behavior of the Texas Instruments TI-30X Pro calculator, particularly in the context of addition and the display of decimal results. Participants explore the implications of the calculator's digit display limits and how they affect calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the calculator rounds the result of adding two large numbers, questioning what might be missing in their calculation process.
  • Another participant suggests that the display is limited to 10 digits, which could explain the rounding behavior observed.
  • A participant references the User Manual, indicating that the calculator should display results without rounding, as it can handle more than 10 digits.
  • Multiple participants mention the result of the square root of 3, noting that the calculator rounds this value to 10 digits as well.
  • Concerns are raised about potential errors when entering long equations, with references to specific error messages related to digit limits in the User Manual.
  • Some participants speculate that the calculator may retain more digits internally than it displays, which could affect calculations.
  • One participant expresses confidence that they are making an error in their input, especially when comparing results with another calculator.
  • A later reply suggests that the User Manual may lack clarity regarding the 10-digit limit, implying a possible oversight by the manufacturer.
  • Another participant estimates that the calculator uses 13 digits internally, while displaying only 10, contributing to the confusion regarding rounding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the rounding behavior of the calculator and the implications of its digit limits. There is no consensus on whether the rounding is a result of input errors or inherent limitations of the calculator's design.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific limitations regarding equation length and digit display, but these points remain unresolved in terms of their impact on the rounding issue discussed.

Sakitumi
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Hi guys,
I am using a Texas Instruments TI-30X Pro calculator.
I add 599,944,263.55 to 8,404,167.32 and get 608,348,430.9 instead of 608,348,430.87. It seems it rounds the decimals on its own.
What am I missing?

Thanks i advance for your answers and help!
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
Isn't the display limited to 10 digits? In that case, then it will indeed round the result to 10 digits.
 
DrClaude said:
Isn't the display limited to 10 digits? In that case, then it will indeed round the result to 10 digits.

Thank you for your reply.
Now I quote from the User Manual that came with the product:

[poly solv] An entry or menu displays beyond 16 digits.

I asume it should display the result without rounding it.

I guess the limit in digits display goes beyond the 10 digit you normally find in so called market calculators.
 
What is the answer to ##\sqrt{3}##?
 
DrClaude said:
What is the answer to ##\sqrt{3}##?
1.732050808
 
Sakitumi said:
1.732050808
So the calculator is indeed rounding to 10 digits (##\sqrt{3} = 1.732\,050\,807\,568\,877\ldots##)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Sakitumi
DrClaude said:
So the calculator is indeed rounding to 10 digits (##\sqrt{3} = 1.732\,050\,807\,568\,877\ldots##)
Then in my hundreds of millions arithmetic I should get Syntax Error or similar error considering the, I quote:

EQUATION LENGTH ERROR — An entry exceeds the digit
limits (80 for stat entries or 47 for constant entries); for
example, combining an entry with a constant that exceeds the
limit.


I am confident I am doing something wrong. I tried the same calculation on a Chinese simple calculator and it works perfectly fine. The price and brand comparison is no match and not the subject to my inquiry.
 
DrClaude said:
So the calculator is indeed rounding to 10 digits (##\sqrt{3} = 1.732\,050\,807\,568\,877\ldots##)

But probably you are right and the producer missed filling the "10 digit limit" information in the User's Manual.
 
Internally, the calculator is probably keeping more digits than the 10. After having got the result for ##\sqrt{3}##, you can multiply it by 2, and you will probably find a number ending in 5, not in 6.
Sakitumi said:
Then in my hundreds of millions arithmetic I should get Syntax Error or similar error considering the, I quote:

EQUATION LENGTH ERROR — An entry exceeds the digit
limits (80 for stat entries or 47 for constant entries); for
example, combining an entry with a constant that exceeds the
limit.


I am confident I am doing something wrong. I tried the same calculation on a Chinese simple calculator and it works perfectly fine. The price and brand comparison is no match and not the subject to my inquiry.
I am not sure what you are doing, but it looks like you are entering something that is too long. Check what you are actually typing on the keypad.
 
  • #10
DrClaude said:
Internally, the calculator is probably keeping more digits than the 10. After having got the result for ##\sqrt{3}##, you can multiply it by 2, and you will probably find a number ending in 5, not in 6.

I am not sure what you are doing, but it looks like you are entering something that is too long. Check what you are actually typing on the keypad.
I quote from the User Manual:
EQUATION LENGTH ERROR — An entry exceeds the digit
limits (80 for stat entries or 47 for constant entries); for
example, combining an entry with a constant that exceeds the
limit.

It should display pass by the 10 digit limit, shouldn't it? Instead it rounds it.
 
  • #11
Sakitumi said:
I quote from the User Manual:
EQUATION LENGTH ERROR — An entry exceeds the digit
limits (80 for stat entries or 47 for constant entries); for
example, combining an entry with a constant that exceeds the
limit.

It should display pass by the 10 digit limit, shouldn't it? Instead it rounds it.
The way I read, is that if you try to enter a constant with more than 47 digits, it will not take it. I would be extremely surprised if the calculator could actual do calculations on a 47-digit number. My guess is that internally, it must use 12-16 digits at most.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Sakitumi
  • #12
It uses 13 digits internally and displays 10.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DrClaude
  • #13
Thank you guys! I need a new calculator then.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
8K
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
29K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
21K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
22K
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
8K