When Calculators lie will anyone notice?

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A recent study by a Texas Tech University graduate student reveals that many people exhibit blind trust in calculators, often overlooking their potential inaccuracies. This discussion touches on historical computing errors, particularly the infamous Pentium FDIV bug, which caused significant miscalculations due to a flaw in its lookup table. Participants reminisce about the 80486 processor and the 487 coprocessor, clarifying that the latter was not a true coprocessor but an enhancement for the 486SX model. The conversation also highlights common user mistakes, such as confusion between radians and degrees in calculators. Additionally, various calculator apps are recommended, including RealCalc and Free42, which support both standard and RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) modes. The dialogue reflects a broader skepticism towards technology, emphasizing the importance of understanding and verifying computational tools rather than accepting their outputs at face value.
  • #31
Postscript uses RPN - probably because it's meant to be implemented on fairly low-end hardware and mostly written by other programs.
 
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  • #32
Emacs also includes an RPN calculator (calc) in its standard distribution. I haven't really used it but the feature list seems quite impressive for a package included in what is ostensibly a text editor.
 
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  • #33
I tend to fire up python on linux and type in my expression to get a quick answer.
 
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  • #34
As long as people are prone to make errors using the tiny keyboards on calculators, there will be some distrust in the answers - just because they may be answers to the wrong calculations. If a simpler interface is developed, the answers are more likely to be taken for granted.

...just as people who compose text messages by talking aloud tend to think they are writing what they intend!
 

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