DC Electronics
DC-80

0

0

AC

Round

Copy

Power

C

Swap

Paste

Root

7

8

9

×

4

5

6

÷

1

2

3

+

0

-




Calculator Instructions

The DC-80 calculator is designed for fast arithmatic, featuring a persistant operand.

The top value is the "Result". Underneath that is the "Operand".

You can exchange them with the "Swap" button. (Useful for 1/x type situations) It's keyboard shortcut is "S".

Notice there is no "equals sign". The operator you choose will evaluate immediately.

Since the Operand is still there, you can "undo" an operation by pressing the opposite operator.

You can round any floating point number with the "Round" button. This only effects the Result, not the Operand. Keyboard shortcut = "R".

Copy the Result to your clipboard with the "C" key.

Paste a number into the Operand with the "V" key. It will attempt to filter out any non-numeric characters.

The "back arrow" button deletes the rightmost character, like a backspace key. The keyboard shortcut is "B".

The "AC" button (All Clear) clears both fields, while the "C" button only clears the Operand field. The keyboard shortcuts are "A" and "Z", respectively (sorry, C = copy).

The Power & Root functions have keyboard shorcuts "P" & "O".

The Multiply operation has two keyboard shortcuts: the "asterisk" or "quote/apostrophe" keys. This makes keyboard input possible on keyboard that may or may not have a numeric 10-key pad. (Divide = "/" key)

Likewise, the "plus" and "minus" keyboard shortcuts the -/+ keys to the right of the row of numbers (no Shift required).

The state of your CapsLock key should not matter for any shortcuts.

For those with 10-key number pads, Backspace and Enter have been assigned to "delete right character" and "clear operand", respectively. That helps with the most common operations.

Why another calculator?

There were many situations where standard calculators were frustrating.

Repeating operations or using a calculator as a counter: The fact that the Operand stays around means I can repeat the previous calulation quickly, thus it can be used as a counter of any increment (or decrement).

Factoring a number: While tesing factors, it seemed like extra work on common calculators. This workflow makes it easy to undo division with a quick mulitiplication using the same operand. Or quickly check the sqare root of your target, then quickly get your target back with the Power button, leaving 2 as the operand.

Fibonacci Sequence: Here's a fun one that is difficult on a normal calculator and a breeze on the DC-80. Start with a clean slate (AC)...
Enter 1, then [+]
Repeat Swap and [+]...

-David James Call




djcall.neocities.org