Don't know how to use a calculator...

[Dragon]

I am missing some logic here, so please explain if it makes any sense to
you...

Using Windows Calculator Press the following buttons:

480000 / 35% =

And you get the result: 168000

When infact your result should be: 1371428.57xxxxx

What Gives?

 

[PA Bear]

Are you trying to determine 35% of 480000?

 

[John John]

Put it in scientific mode or break it down to lower forms and use the
memory functions

480000/(35/100)

or

480000/.35

or

35/100=

(Use M+ to store the above .35 return to memory, them press CE to clear
the display)

then

480000/MR=


John

 

[Dragon]

I know I can break it down and it works. But I want to know is this a bug in
Win Calc?

 

[Dragon]

No. I am trying to devide 480000 by 35% (480000 / (35%) or 480000/35*100.
Just trying to find out if there is a bug in Win Calc.

 

[Elmo]

No. I am trying to devide 480000 by 35% (480000 / (35%) or 480000/35*100.
Just trying to find out if there is a bug in Win Calc.

That would take a parenthetical expression. (I think that's the term..)
I doubt it's possible without a scientific calculator.

BTW, any number, divided by 35% of itself would give you 2.857xxx You
should get that number by clicking 480000/35%= or 50/35%=

hth, not trying to be a bore, nor a boor..

 

[Dragon]

hmmm, This is strange. I just picked up a $1 calculator and performed the
same calculation with correct results. I also tested it in Excel by entering
formula (=480000/35%) and received the correct results.

To me (=480000/35%) = (480000) * (1/35 ) * (100)

Where is that number (2.587xxx) coming from? Is Calc applying some different
logic?

 

[Sinner]

No. I am trying to devide 480000 by 35% (480000 / (35%) or 480000/35*100.
Just trying to find out if there is a bug in Win Calc.

The problem is the logic. 36% is a ratio, 35/100*X. It isn't a real
number.

480000 can be divided by X, or 35%X, but not by 35%.

 

[Dragon]

I get what you are saying. It makes sense. Having said that, which one is
wrong (Excel and $1 calculator or Win Calc)?

 

[NoConsequence]

I know I can break it down and it works. But I want to know is this a bug in
Win Calc?

No, it's a problem with what you are trying to do.

Are you trying to divide by .35? Or 35%?

If the latter, then here's the problem: 35% of WHAT? If you aren't
clear, why would expect the calculator give you the answer you were
looking for?

It appears it is giving you what 35% or 480,000 is.

 

[Elmo]

hmmm, This is strange. I just picked up a $1 calculator and performed the
same calculation with correct results. I also tested it in Excel by entering
formula (=480000/35%) and received the correct results.

To me (=480000/35%) = (480000) * (1/35 ) * (100)

Where is that number (2.587xxx) coming from? Is Calc applying some different
logic?

480000 / (35% [of 480000 which is 168000]) = 2.8xx

That actually looks right to me..

 

[John John]

hmmm, This is strange. I just picked up a $1 calculator and performed
the same calculation with correct results. I also tested it in Excel
by entering formula (=480000/35%) and received the correct results.

To me (=480000/35%) = (480000) * (1/35 ) * (100)

Where is that number (2.587xxx) coming from? Is Calc applying some
different logic?

480000 / (35% [of 480000 which is 168000]) = 2.8xx

That actually looks right to me..

It doesn't look right to me. The assumption in your example is that the
35% represents 35% of 480000, we don't know that to be true. The
problem is that the OP presented us with a bit of an oddball
mathematical problem, dividing by percents is not a standard way of
doing things. In the real world when presented with that problem one
would ask 35 percent of what? Without knowing the only correct answer
is to convert 35% to its fractional or decimal value.

35% = 35/100 = .35

If we recall our grade school math about dividing fractions and
reciprocals we get:

480000/35% = 480000/(35/100) = (480000/1)x(100/35) = 1371428.571

John

 

[Nightowl]

[Dragon said:]

Dragon, you haven't finished the sum Calc is showing what 35% of
480,000 is. When you see the 168,000, press "=" and you'll get 2.85xxx,
as Joe said.

Are you trying to divide by .35? Or 35%?

If the latter, then here's the problem: 35% of WHAT? If you aren't
clear, why would expect the calculator give you the answer you were
looking for?

Methinks Dragon is puzzled because Calc's interpretation is different
from his pocket calculator's and, apparently, Excel's. Calc takes

480,000 / 35%

as meaning "divide 480,000 by 35% of itself" (I would, too). The pocket
calculator thinks it means "divide 480,000 by 0.35". Mine does the same.

 

[PowerUser]

I'm an engineer so I know where your coming from. The Windows Calc is the
irregular one- Even my scientific calculator can understand that you want to
divide the two and express the answer as a percentage (multiplying the
result of division my 100).

I'd say don't use calc.exe.. unless it's stupidly simple.

 

[WaIIy]

I am missing some logic here, so please explain if it makes any sense to
you...

Using Windows Calculator Press the following buttons:

480000 / 35% =

And you get the result: 168000

When infact your result should be: 1371428.57xxxxx

What Gives?

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Power Calc

 

[M.I.5¾]

No. I am trying to devide 480000 by 35% (480000 / (35%) or 480000/35*100.
Just trying to find out if there is a bug in Win Calc.

Your error though is in not quite understanding the logic of Win Calc.
Pressing the percentage key immediately after the 35 does not mean 35%. It
gives you 48000% of 35 (which it correctly gives as 168000).

 

[M.I.5¾]

I know I can break it down and it works. But I want to know is this a bug
in Win Calc?

To answer your question: No.

Win Calc is doing exactly what you are telling it to do. Its just that what
you are telling it to do is not what you think you are telling it to do.

 

[M.I.5¾]

[Dragon said:]

Dragon, you haven't finished the sum Calc is showing what 35% of
480,000 is. When you see the 168,000, press "=" and you'll get 2.85xxx, as
Joe said.

Are you trying to divide by .35? Or 35%?

If the latter, then here's the problem: 35% of WHAT? If you aren't
clear, why would expect the calculator give you the answer you were
looking for?

Methinks Dragon is puzzled because Calc's interpretation is different from
his pocket calculator's and, apparently, Excel's. Calc takes

480,000 / 35%

as meaning "divide 480,000 by 35% of itself" (I would, too). The pocket
calculator thinks it means "divide 480,000 by 0.35". Mine does the same.

No Calc interprets it as 'find 480000% of 35'. And it does so correctly.
The problem is that not all calculators handle a percent key the same way.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I get what you are saying. It makes sense. Having said that, which one is
wrong (Excel and $1 calculator or Win Calc)?

As far as I'm concerned,all of the above (Excel and $1 calculator or
Win Calc) are wrong. Sinner is correct. 480000 / (35%) is undefined.
It's a meaningless calculation, It's like asking how much is 48 cows
divided by 35 accordions. There is no answer.

 

[Stephen]

As far as I'm concerned,all of the above (Excel and $1 calculator or
Win Calc) are wrong. Sinner is correct. 480000 / (35%) is undefined.
It's a meaningless calculation, It's like asking how much is 48 cows
divided by 35 accordions. There is no answer.

Why is 480000 / (35%) undefined?
A percentage is just that: "per cent", or "for each hundred".
Hence 35% = 35/100 = 0.35
So, 480000 / (35%) is the same as 480000/0.35

Stephen