On TI-30xA when I use the EE button, it returns an incorrect value when I hit "=" to go to decimal form. It appears this is only true with negative exponents.
For instance: key stroke sequence: 10, [EE], 5, -, returns as .0001
We all know this should be .00001. This can cause great errors, espcially since this is one of a few allowed calculators on standardized tests such as the Professional Engineers Exam.
Note if you hit 10, [y^x], 5,-, key sequence you get the right values.
Can anyone else with a TI-30Xa confirm my problem. Is it a software error that all TI's will have? Or did I get a "lemon"?
Hello,
I dont think you got a lemon.
You acn always enter the powers of 10 as 10, [y^x], but is is less efficient than the EE key
This EE representation is a shortcut.
If you want 10 to the 5th power you just enter [2nd] [EE] 5 and the calculator displays 100000. Of course if you need any other number multiplying the power of ten you enter the following e.g. 2.677[x][2nd][EE]5.
You will not get any error with a positive exponent. But if your exponent is negative you should use the change signe key to the left of ENTER and symbolized by (-)
To avoid all errors I would use parentheses to enclose my exponent.
Here is how to explain the seemingly erroneous result
10 [EE] 5 ) (-) is interpreted by your calculator as 10x(10^(-5)) which evaluates correctly to 0.0001 because [EE] by itself stands for 10^ .
Hope it clarifies this point for you.
By the way some new calculators (Casio) don't have this EE key. Instead you find a key labeled x10^X .
Hope it helps
You're pressing the wrong key. If you want a negative exponent, use the change-sign key ([+<>-] is the closest I can come to drawing the key here), not the subtract key.
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I think I figured it out. Looking at another calculators user manual it says "EE" assumes you are already multiplying x 10^x
so to use the EE button, I should just put in 1, not 10. The TI user manual doesn't say this button functions as a "shortcut" to scientific notation, it just shows using it to enter exponents, but now that I think about it, on my graphing calculator pushing the EE button did short-circuit the key strokes of scientific notation.
Oh well... solved my own problem. Maybe some other people will learn to be carefull using this key since it is not properly explained in the user manual for this calculator.
ee button doesn't work for exponents
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