hp
12c platinum financial calculator
user's guide
H
Edition 4
HP part number F2232-90001
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Printed Date: 2005/8/1 Dimension: 14.8 cm x 21 cm
Notice
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© Copyright 1981, 1982, 1999, 2002-2005 Hewlett-Packard
Development Company, L.P. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation
of this manual is prohibited without prior written permission of
Hewlett-Packard Company, except as allowed under the copyright
laws.
Hewlett-Packard Company
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Suite 301
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Printing History
Edition 4 March 2005
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Introduction
About This Handbook
This hp 12c platinum user's guide is intended to help you get the most out of your
investment in your hp 12c platinum Programmable Financial Calculator. Although
the excitement of acquiring this powerful financial tool may prompt you to set this
handbook aside and immediately begin “pressing buttons,” in the long run you’ll
profit by reading through this handbook and working through the examples it
contains.
Following this introduction is a brief section called Making Financial Calculations
Easy—which shows you that your hp 12c platinum does just that! The remainder of
this handbook is organized basically into three parts:
z Part I (sections 1 through 7) describes how to use the various financial,
mathematics, statistics, and other functions (except for programming)
provided in the calculator:
z Section 1 is about Getting Started. It tells you how to use the keyboard,
how to do simple arithmetic calculations and chain calculations, and
how to use the storage registers (“memories”).
z Section 2 tells you how to use the percentage and calendar functions.
z Section 3 tells you how to use the simple interest, compound interest, and
amortization functions.
z Section 4 tells you how to do discounted cash flow analysis, bond, and
depreciation calculations.
z Section 5 tells you about miscellaneous operating features such as
Continuous Memory, the display, and special function keys.
z Sections 6 and 7 tell you how to use the statistics, mathematics, and
number-alteration functions.
z Part II (sections 8 through 11) describes how to use the powerful
programming capabilities of the hp 12c platinum.
z Part III (sections 12 through 16) gives you step-by-step solutions to
specialized problems in real estate, lending, savings, investment analysis,
and bonds. Some of these solutions can be done manually, while others
involve running a program. Since the programmed solutions are both
self-contained and step-by-step, you can easily employ them even if you don’t
care to learn how to create your own programs. But if you do start to create
your own programs, look over the programs used in the solutions: they
contain examples of good programming techniques and practices.
3
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4 Introduction
z The various appendices describe additional details of calculator operation as
well as warranty and service information.
z The Function Key Index and Programming Key Index at the back of the
handbook can be used as a handy page reference to the comprehensive
information inside the manual.
Financial Calculations in the United Kingdom
The calculations for most financial problems in the United Kingdom are identical to
the calculations for those problems in the United States — which are described in
this handbook. Certain problems, however, require different calculation methods in
the United Kingdom than in the United States. Refer to Appendix G for more
information.
For More Solutions to Financial Problems
In addition to the specialized solutions found in Sections 12 through 16 of this
handbook, many more are available in the optional hp 12c platinum Solutions
Handbook. Included are solutions to problems in lending, forecasting, pricing,
statistics, savings, investment analysis, personal finance, securities, Canadian
mortgages, learning curves in manufacturing, options pricing, and queuing theory.
The solutions handbook is available online at the hp 12c platinum website.
HP would like to thank the following for their contribution:
Gene Wright, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN, USA
and
Tony Hutchins, Wellington, NZ
Jordi Hidalgo, Barcelona, Spain
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Contents
Introduction.................................................................... 3
About This Handbook.....................................................................3
Financial Calculations in the United Kingdom.....................................4
For More Solutions to Financial Problems...........................................4
Part I: Problem Solving ......................................... 15
Section 1:
Power On and Off........................................................................16
The Keyboard ..............................................................................16
Simple Arithmetic Calculations in RPN Mode ...................................21
Simple Arithmetic Calculations in ALG Mode...................................22
Chain Calculations in RPN Mode...................................................23
Chain Calculations in ALG Mode ...................................................26
Parentheses Calculations ...............................................................26
Storage Registers..........................................................................27
Section 2:
Percentage Functions.....................................................................31
Getting Started ................................................. 16
Low-Power Indication..............................................................16
Adjusting the Display Contrast.................................................16
Keying in Numbers ................................................................17
Digit Separators ....................................................................17
Negative Numbers ................................................................17
Keying in Large Numbers .......................................................18
Backspacing .........................................................................18
The CLEAR Keys ....................................................................19
Undo Operation....................................................................20
The RPN and ALG Keys ..........................................................20
Storing and Recalling Numbers...............................................27
Clearing Storage Registers......................................................29
Storage Register Arithmetic .....................................................29
Percentage and Calendar Functions .................... 31
Percentages in RPN Mode ......................................................31
Percentages in ALG Mode ......................................................32
Net Amount in RPN Mode......................................................33
Net Amount in ALG Mode......................................................33
Percent Difference..................................................................34
Percent of Total in RPN Mode..................................................35
5
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Percent of Total in ALG Mode ................................................. 36
Calendar Functions ...................................................................... 37
Date Format ......................................................................... 37
Future or Past Dates............................................................... 38
Number of Days Between Dates ............................................. 40
Section 3:
The Financial Registers ................................................................. 41
Simple Interest Calculations........................................................... 42
Financial Calculations and the Cash Flow Diagram.......................... 44
Compound Interest Calculations..................................................... 49
Amortization ............................................................................... 69
Basic Financial Functions ....................................41
Storing Numbers into the Financial Registers ............................ 41
Displaying Numbers in the Financial Registers.......................... 41
Clearing the Financial Registers .............................................. 42
The Cash Flow Sign Convention.............................................. 46
The Payment Mode ............................................................... 46
Generalized Cash Flow Diagrams........................................... 47
Specifying the Number of Compounding Periods and the Periodic
Interest Rate ......................................................................... 49
Calculating the Number of Payments or Compounding Periods ... 49
Calculating the Periodic and Annual Interest Rates..................... 55
Calculating the Present Value ................................................. 56
Calculating the Payment Amount............................................. 58
Calculating the Future Value ................................................... 60
Odd-Period Calculations ........................................................ 63
Section 4:
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis: NPV and IRR ................................. 72
Bond Calculations ....................................................................... 82
Depreciation Calculations............................................................. 84
Section 5:
Continuous Memory..................................................................... 86
The Display................................................................................. 87
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Additional Financial Functions............................. 72
Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) ....................................... 73
Calculating Internal Rate of Return (IRR) ................................... 78
Reviewing Cash Flow Entries................................................... 79
Changing Cash Flow Entries................................................... 80
Bond Price ........................................................................... 82
Bond Yield........................................................................... 83
Additional Operating Features ............................86
Contents 7
Status Indicators ....................................................................87
Number Display Formats ........................................................87
Scientific Notation Display Format ...........................................88
Special Displays ....................................................................90
The Key in RPN Mode..........................................................90
The Key in RPN Mode .........................................................91
Arithmetic Calculations With Constants ....................................91
Recovering From Errors in Digit Entry........................................92
Section 6:
Accumulating Statistics..................................................................93
Correcting Accumulated Statistics ...................................................94
Mean .........................................................................................94
Standard Deviation.......................................................................96
Linear Estimation ..........................................................................97
Weighted Mean...........................................................................99
Section 7:
One-Number Functions ...............................................................100
The Power Function in RPN Mode.................................................102
The Power Function in ALG Mode .................................................102
Statistics Functions ............................................ 93
Mathematics and Number-Alteration Functions.. 100
Part II: Programming........................................... 103
Section 8:
Why Use Programs?...................................................................104
Creating a Program....................................................................104
Running a Program.....................................................................106
Program Memory .......................................................................108
Executing a Program One Line at a Time.......................................114
Interrupting Program Execution.....................................................117
Programming Basics ........................................ 104
Identifying Instructions in Program Lines ..................................108
Displaying Program Lines......................................................109
The 000 Instruction and Program Line 000 ......................112
Expanding Program Memory ................................................112
Setting the Calculator to a Particular Program Line ...................114
Pausing During Program Execution.........................................117
Stopping Program Execution .................................................122
Section 9:
Simple Branching.......................................................................125
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Branching and Looping.....................................125
8 Contents
Looping.................................................................................... 126
Conditional Branching ............................................................... 129
Section 10:
Changing the Instruction in a Program Line ................................... 139
Adding Instructions at the End of a Program.................................. 140
Adding Instructions within a Program ........................................... 142
Section 11:
Storing Another Program ............................................................ 149
Running Another Program........................................................... 153
Program Editing ...............................................139
Adding Instructions by Replacement ...................................... 142
Adding Instructions by Branching.......................................... 144
Multiple Programs............................................149
Part III: Solutions .................................................. 155
Section 12:
Annual Percentage Rate Calculations With Fees............................. 156
Price of a Mortgage Traded at a Discount or Premium.................... 159
Yield of a Mortgage Traded at a Discount or Premium ................... 161
The Rent or Buy Decision ............................................................ 163
Deferred Annuities ..................................................................... 169
Section 13:
Partial-Year Depreciation............................................................. 171
Full- and Partial-Year Depreciation with Crossover .......................... 184
Excess Depreciation................................................................... 191
Modified Internal Rate of Return................................................... 192
Black-Scholes Formula for Valuing European Options...................... 194
Real Estate and Lending....................................156
Investment Analysis..........................................171
Straight-Line Depreciation..................................................... 171
Declining-Balance Depreciation .............................................176
Sum-of-the-Years-Digits Depreciation ...................................... 180
Section 14:
Advance Payments..................................................................... 202
Advance Payments With Residual ................................................ 209
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Leasing ...........................................................202
Solving for Payment............................................................. 202
Solving for Yield ................................................................. 206
Solving for Payment............................................................. 209
Solving for Yield ................................................................. 212
Contents 9
Section 15:
Nominal Rate Converted to Effective Rate ......................................213
Effective Rate Converted to Nominal Rate ......................................215
Continuous Rate Converted to Effective Rate...................................216
Section 16:
30/360 Day Basis Bonds ...........................................................217
Annual Coupon Bonds................................................................ 222
Savings .......................................................... 213
Bonds............................................................. 217
Appendices ................................................................ 227
Appendix A: RPN and the Stack................................... 228
Getting Numbers Into the Stack: The Key..............................229
Termination of Digit Entry .....................................................230
Stack Lift.............................................................................230
Rearranging Numbers in the Stack ...............................................230
The Key.....................................................................230
The Key.......................................................................230
One-Number Functions and the Stack...........................................231
Two-Number Functions and the Stack............................................231
Mathematics Functions .........................................................231
Percentage Functions............................................................ 232
Calendar and Financial Functions.................................................233
The LAST X Register and the Key .........................................234
Chain Calculations in RPN Mode.................................................234
Arithmetic Calculations with Constants ..........................................235
Appendix B: Algebraic Mode (ALG).............................. 237
Simple Arithmetic Calculations in ALG Mode................................. 237
Keying in Negative Numbers ( ) .............................................238
Chain Calculations in ALG Mode ................................................. 238
The Key in ALG Mode .......................................................239
The History Stack in ALG Mode....................................................239
Parentheses Calculations .............................................................240
Percentage Functions...................................................................241
Percent Difference................................................................241
Percent of Total....................................................................242
The Power Function.....................................................................242
Appendix C: More About L...................................... 243
Appendix D: Error Conditions ...................................... 245
Error 0: Mathematics..................................................................245
Error 1: Storage Register Overflow ...............................................246
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10 Contents
Error 2: Statistics........................................................................ 246
Error 3: IRR............................................................................... 246
Error 4: Memory ....................................................................... 246
Error 5: Compound Interest..........................................................247
Error 6: Storage Registers ............................................................248
Error 7: IRR ................................................................................248
Error 8: Calendar.......................................................................249
Error 9: Service ..........................................................................249
Pr Error .....................................................................................249
Appendix E: Formulas Used......................................... 250
Percentage................................................................................ 250
Interest ..................................................................................... 250
Simple Interest.................................................................... 250
Compound Interest.............................................................. 251
Amortization ............................................................................. 251
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis ....................................................252
Net Present Value ................................................................252
Internal Rate of Return...........................................................252
Calendar...................................................................................252
Actual Day Basis..................................................................252
30/360 Day Basis...............................................................252
Bonds .......................................................................................253
Black-Scholes Formula for Valuing European Options .................... 254
Depreciation ............................................................................. 254
Straight-Line Depreciation......................................................255
Sum-of-the-Years-Digits Depreciation .......................................255
Declining-Balance Depreciation .............................................255
Modified Internal Rate of Return................................................... 256
Advance Payments..................................................................... 256
Interest Rate Conversions ............................................................ 256
Finite Compounding............................................................ 256
Continuous Compounding.................................................... 256
Statistics ....................................................................................257
Mean.................................................................................257
Weighted Mean ..................................................................257
Linear Estimation..................................................................257
Standard Deviation ..............................................................257
Factorial .............................................................................257
The Rent or Buy Decision ............................................................ 258
Appendix F: Battery, Warranty, and Service Information 259
Battery ......................................................................................259
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Contents 11
Low-Power Indication ..................................................................259
Installing a New Battery .......................................................260
Verifying Proper Operation (Self-Tests)...........................................261
Warranty .................................................................................. 263
Service .....................................................................................264
Regulatory Information................................................................ 265
Temperature Specifications ..........................................................266
Noise Declaration ......................................................................266
Disposal of Waste Equipment by Users in Private Household in the
European Union......................................................................... 266
Appendix G: United Kingdom Calculations.....................267
Mortgages ................................................................................267
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Calculations....................................268
Bond Calculations ......................................................................268
Function Key Index.......................................................269
Programming Key Index ...............................................272
Subject Index ..............................................................274
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Making Financial
Calculations Easy
Before you begin to read through this handbook, let’s take a look at how easy
financial calculations can be with your hp 12c platinum. While working through
the examples below, don’t be concerned about learning how to use the calculator;
we’ll cover that thoroughly beginning with Section 1.
Example 1:
college education 14 years from today. You expect that the cost will be about
$6,000 a year ($500 a month) for 4 years. Assume she will withdraw $500 at the
beginning of each month from a savings account. How much would you have to
deposit into the account when she enters college if the account pays 6% annual
interest compounded monthly?
This is an example of a compound interest calculation. All such problems involve at
least three of the following quantities:
z n: the number of compounding periods.
z i: the interest rate per compounding period.
z PV: the present value of a compounded amount.
z PMT: the periodic payment amount.
z FV: the future value of a compounded amount.
In this particular example:
z n is 4 years × 12 periods per year = 48 periods.
z i is 6% per year ÷ 12 periods per year = 0.5% per period.
z PV is the quantity to be calculated — the present value when the financial
z PMT is $500.
z FV is zero, since by the time your daughter graduates she (hopefully!) will
To begin, turn the calculator on by pressing the ; key. Then, press the keys
shown in the
Suppose you want to ensure that you can finance your daughter’s
transaction begins.
not need any more money.
Keystrokes
column below.
*
If you are not familiar with the use of an hp calculator keyboard, refer to the description on
*
pages 16 and 17.
12
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Making Financial Calculations Easy 13
Note: A battery symbol ( ) shown in the upper-left corner of the display
when the calculator is on signifies that the available battery power is nearly
exhausted. To install new batteries, refer to Appendix F.
The calendar functions and nearly all of the financial functions take some
time to produce an answer. (This is typically just a few seconds, but the¼,
!, L, and S functions could require a half-minute or more.) During
these calculations, the word running flashes in the display to let you know
that the calculator is running.
Keystrokes Display
f
CLEAR
gA
4
gC
6
500P
g×
$
Hf
2
0.00
48.00
0.50
500.00
500.00
-21,396.61
Clears previous data inside the
calculator and sets display to show
two decimal places.
Calculates and stores the number
of compounding periods.
Calculates and stores the periodic
interest rate.
Stores periodic payment amount.
Sets payment mode to Begin.
Amount required to be deposited.
*
Example 2:
by the time your daughter enters college 14 years from now. Let’s say that she has
a paid-up $5,000 insurance policy that pays 5.35%, compounded annually. How
much would it be worth by the time she enters college?
In this example, we need to calculate FV, the future value.
Keystrokes Display
f
CLEARG
14n
5.35¼
5000
We now need to determine how to accumulate the required deposit
Þ$
-21,396.61
14.00
5.35
-5,000.00
Clears previous financial data
inside the calculator.
Stores the number of compounding
periods.
Stores the periodic interest rate.
Stores the present value of the
policy.
Don’t be concerned now about the minus sign in the display. That and other details will be
*
explained in Section 3.
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14 Making Financial Calculations Easy
Keystrokes Display
M
10,371.79
Value of policy in 14 years.
Example 3:
provide about half the required amount. An additional amount must be set aside to
provide the balance (21,396.61 – 10,371.79 = 11,024.82). Suppose you make
monthly payments, beginning at the end of next month, into an account that pays
6% annually, compounded monthly. What payment amount would be required in
order to accumulate $11,024.82 in the 14 years remaining?
Keystrokes Display
f
CLEARG
gA
14
gC
6
11024.82M
gÂ
P
Example 4:
with 6% annual interest compounded monthly, but you can afford to make $45
monthly payments. What is the minimum interest rate that will enable you to
accumulate the required amount?
In this problem, we do not need to clear the previous financial data inside the
calculator, since most of it is unchanged from the preceding example.
Keystrokes Display
The preceding example showed that the insurance policy will
10,371.79
168.00
0.50
11,024.82
11,024.82
–42.03
Suppose you cannot find a bank that currently offers an account
Clears previous financial data
inside the calculator.
Calculates and stores the number
of compounding periods.
Calculates and stores the periodic
interest rate.
Stores the future value required.
Sets payment mode to End.
Monthly payment required.
ÞP
45
¼
:gC
This is only a small sampling of the many financial calculations that can now be
done easily with your hp 12c platinum. To begin learning about this powerful
financial tool, just turn the page.
–45.00
0.43
5.13
Stores payment amount.
Periodic interest rate.
Annual interest rate.
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Part I
Problem Solving
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g
r
Section 1
Getting Started
Power On and Off
To begin using your hp 12c platinum, press the ; key*. Pressing ; again
turns the calculator off. If not manually turned off, the calculator will turn off
automatically 12 minutes after it was last used.
Low-Power Indication
A battery symbol ( ) shown in the upper-left corner of the display when the
calculator is on signifies that the available battery power is nearly exhausted. To
replace the batteries, refer to Appendix F.
Adjusting the Display Contrast
The display’s readability depends on lighting, your viewing angle, and the display
contrast setting. You can adjust the display contrast, by holding down the f key
and pressing + or -.
The Keyboard
Many keys on the hp 12c platinum perform two or even three functions. The
primary function of a key is indicated by the characters printed in white on the
upper face of the key. The alternate function(s) of a key are indicated by the
characters printed in gold above the key and the characters printed in blue on the
lower face of the key. These alternate functions are specified by pressing the
appropriate prefix key before the function key:
z To specify the alternate function printed in
above a key, press the gold prefix key (f), then
press the function key.
z To specify the primary function printed on the uppe
face of a key, press the key alone.
z To specify the alternate function printed in blue on the
lower face of a key, press the blue prefix key (g),
then press the function key.
Note that the ; key is lower than the other keys to help prevent its being pressed
*
inadvertently.
16
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old
Section 1: Getting Started 17
Throughout this handbook, references to the functions shown on the keyboard in gold
under the bracket labeled
the word “CLEAR” (for example, “The CLEAR
f
CLEARH …”).
If you press the f or g prefix key mistakenly, you can cancel it by pressing
f
CLEARX. This can also be pressed to cancel the ?, :, and i keys.
(These keys are “prefix” keys in the sense that other keys must be pressed after
them in order to execute the corresponding function.) Since the X key is also
used to display the mantissa (all 10 digits) of a displayed number, the mantissa of
the number in the display will appear for a moment after the X key is released.
Pressing the f or g prefix key turns on the corresponding status indicator — f
or g — in the display. Each indicator turns off when you press a function key
(executing an alternate function of that key), another prefix key, or fCLEARX.
CLEAR” appear throughout this handbook preceded by
“
H
function …” or “Pressing
Keying in Numbers
To key a number into the calculator, press the digit keys in sequence, just as if you
were writing the number on paper. A decimal point must be keyed in (using the
decimal point key) if it is part of the number unless it appears to the right of the last
digit.
Digit Separators
As a number is keyed in, each group of three digits to the left of the decimal point
is automatically separated in the display. When the calculator is first turned on
after coming from the factory — or after Continuous Memory is reset — the
decimal point in displayed numbers is a dot, and the separator between each
group of three digits is a comma. If you wish, you can set the calculator to display
a comma for the decimal point and a dot for the three-digit separator. To do so,
turn the calculator off, then press and hold down the . key while you press ;.
Doing so again sets the calculator to use the original digit separators in the
display.
Negative Numbers
To make a displayed number negative — either one that has just been keyed in or
one that has resulted from a calculation — simply press Þ (change sign) —.
When the display shows a negative number — that is, the number is preceded by
a minus sign — pressing Þ removes the minus sign from the display, making the
number positive.
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18 Section 1: Getting Started
Keying in Large Numbers
Since the display cannot show more than 10 digits of a number, numbers greater
than 9,999,999,999 cannot be entered into the display by keying in all the digits
in the number. However, such numbers can be easily entered into the display if the
number is expressed in a mathematical shorthand called “scientific notation.” To
convert a number into scientific notation, move the decimal point until there is only
one digit (a nonzero digit) to its left. The resulting number is called the “mantissa”
of the original number, and the number of decimal places you moved the decimal
point is called the “exponent” of the original number. If you moved the decimal
point to the left, the exponent is positive; if you moved the decimal point to the
right (this would occur for numbers less than one), the exponent is negative. To key
the number into the display, simply key in the mantissa, press Æ (enter exponent),
then key in the exponent. If the exponent is negative, press Þ after pressing
Æ
.
For example, to key in $1,781,400,000,000, we move the decimal point 12
places to the left, giving a mantissa of 1.7814 and an exponent of 12:
Keystrokes Display
1.7814Æ12
Numbers entered in scientific notation can be used in calculations just like any
other number.
1.7814 12
1,781,400,000,000 entered
in scientific notation.
Backspacing
While you are entering a number, pressing
entered. After performing a calculation, pressing
number.
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
gÚgÚ
12345
.63\
5+
gÚ
Display
123.63
128.63
0.00
gÚ
deletes the last character you
gÚ
deletes the current
Correcting removes the 4 and
gÚ
5.
digit entered.
Clears the calculator line.
clears the most recent
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Section 1: Getting Started 19
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
gÚgÚ
12345
.63+
5}
gÚ
Display
123.63
128.63
0.00
Correcting removes the 4 and
gÚ
5.
digit entered.
}
\
Clears the calculator line.
clears the most recent
is also labeled the
key.
The CLEAR Keys
Clearing a register or the display replaces the number in it with zero. Clearing
program memory replaces the instructions there with
several clearing operations on the hp 12c platinum, as shown in the table below:
gi
000. There are
Key(s) Clears:
O
fCLEAR² Statistics registers (R1 through R6), stack registers, and
fCLEARÎ Program memory (only when pressed in Program mode).
fCLEARG Financial registers.
Display and X-register.
display.
fCLEARH Data storage registers, financial registers, stack and LAST X
registers, and display.
Note: In ALG mode, it is a good idea to begin calculations by pressing
OO. This will ensure that there are no pending arithmetic calculations
that might interfere with the solution of a new problem. The reason this key is
pressed twice is that pressing it the first time clears the display and X-register
only, allowing you to correct an erroneous entry by keying in a correct
number. The second press of O will clear any pending operations as well.
Pressing the } key is another way to ensure that there are no pending
operations before beginning a new calculation, since the } key will
evaluate any pending expressions.
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20 Section 1: Getting Started
Undo Operation
Every time you press O,
f
CLEARG key to clear data, the
This means you can press
data.)
Note: the Undo function is only available immediately after data has been
cleared. When the Undo indicator is turned off no operation can be undone.
gß
gÚ, f
status indicator appears in the display.
to undo the last operation (i.e., to recover the
CLEARH, fCLEAR² or
The RPN and ALG Keys
The calculator can be set to perform arithmetic operations in either RPN (Reverse
Polish Notation) or ALG (Algebraic) mode.
In Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) mode, the intermediate results of calculations are
stored automatically, hence you do not have to use parentheses.
In algebraic (ALG) mode, you perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division in the traditional way, using parentheses if needed.
To select RPN mode:
the calculator is in RPN mode, the
To select ALG mode:
the calculator is in ALG mode, the
Example
Suppose you want to calculate 1 + 2 = 3.
In RPN mode, you enter the first number, press the \ key, enter the second
number, and finally press the arithmetic operator key: +.
In ALG mode, you enter the first number, press +, enter the second number, and
finally press the equals key: }. Don’t forget to press
calculation.
Press
Press
f]
to set the calculator to RPN mode. When
RPN
status indicator is lit.
f[
to set the calculator to ALG mode. When
ALG
status indicator is lit.
OO
before doing the
RPN mode ALG mode
1 \ 2 + 1 + 2 }
You can choose either ALG (Algebraic) or RPN (Reverse Polish
Notation) mode for your calculations. Throughout the manual, most
examples are shown in both modes. The Keystrokes column will
indicate RPN mode or ALG mode where the keystrokes differ. When
the keystrokes are the same, the column is simply titled
“Keystrokes”.
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Section 1: Getting Started 21
Simple Arithmetic Calculations in RPN Mode
In RPN mode, any simple arithmetic calculation involves two numbers and an
operation — addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. To do such a
calculation on your hp 12c platinum, you first tell the calculator the two numbers,
then tell the calculator the operation to be performed. The answer is calculated
when the operation key (+,-,§, or z) is pressed.
The two numbers should be keyed into the calculator in the order they would
appear if the calculation were written down on paper left-to-right. After keying in
the first number, press the \ key to tell the calculator that you have completed
entering the number. Pressing \ separates the second number to be entered
from the first number already entered.
In summary, to perform an arithmetic operation:
1. Key in the first number.
2. Press \ to separate the second number from the first.
3. Key in the second number.
4. Press +,-,§, or z to perform the desired operation.
For example to calculate 13 ÷ 2, proceed as follows:
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
Display
13
\
2
z
Notice that after you pressed \, two zeroes appeared following the decimal
point. This is nothing magical: the calculator’s display is currently set to show two
decimal places of every number that has been entered or calculated. Before you
pressed \, the calculator had no way of knowing that you had completed
entering the number, and so displayed only the digits you had keyed in. Pressing
\
tells the calculator that you have completed entering the number: it terminates
digit entry. You need not press \ after keying in the second number because
the +,-,§ and z keys also terminate digit entry. (In fact, all keys terminate
digit entry except for digit entry keys — digit keys, ., Þ, and Æ — and
prefix keys — f, g, ?, :, and (.)
13.
13.00
2.
6.50
Keys the first number into the
calculator.
Pressing \ separates the second
number from the first.
Keys the second number into the
calculator.
Pressing the operation key calculates
the answer.
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22 Section 1: Getting Started
Simple Arithmetic Calculations in ALG Mode
In ALG mode, any simple arithmetic calculation involves two numbers and an
operation — addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. To do such a
calculation on your hp 12c platinum, you tell the calculator the first number, then
the operation to be performed, and then tell the calculator the second number. The
answer is calculated when the equals key (}) is pressed.
For example, to calculate 21.1 + 23.8, do the following:
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
OO
21.1+
23.8
}
Once a calculation has been completed:
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
OO
77.35-
90.89}
65
z
z pressing another digit key starts a new calculation, or
z pressing an operator key continues the calculation.
gr§12}
3.5}
Display
0.00
21.10
23.8
44.90
Display
0.00
77.35
–13.54
96.75
27.64
Clears any pending operations.
Keys in the first number and
prepares to add the second.
Keys the second number.
}
completes the calculation.
Clears any pending operations.
}
completes the calculation.
New calculation:
Calculates 96.75 ÷ 3.5
1265 ×
You can also do long calculations without pressing } after each intermediate
calculation: just press it at the end. The operators perform from left to right, in the
order you enter them. Note that if you have just pressed }, there is no need to
OO
press
any pending operations.
before starting a new calculation – the } key will have completed
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Section 1: Getting Started 23
Chain Calculations in RPN Mode
Whenever the answer has just been calculated and is therefore in the display, you
can perform another operation with this number by simply keying in the second
number and then pressing the operation key: you need not press \ to separate
the second number from the first. This is because when a number is keyed in after
a function key (such as +,-,§, z, etc.) is pressed, the result of that prior
calculation is stored inside the calculator — just as when the \ key is pressed.
The only time you must press the \ key to separate two numbers is when you
are keying them both in, one immediately following the other.
The hp 12c platinum is designed so that each time you press a function key in RPN
mode, the calculator performs the operation then — not later — so that you see the
results of all intermediate calculations, as well as the “bottom line.”
Example:
and you’ve just deposited your paycheck for $1,053 into your checking account. If
your latest balance was $58.33 and the checks were written for $22.95, $13.70,
and $10.14, what is the new balance?
Solution:
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
Suppose you’ve written three checks without updating your checkbook,
When written down on paper, this problem would read
58.33 – 22.95 – 13.70 – 10.14 + 1053
Display
58.33
\
22.95
-
13.7
58.33
58.33
22.95
35.38
13.7
Keys the first number.
Pressing \ separates the second
number from the first.
Keys in the second number.
Pressing - subtracts the second
number from the first. The calculator
displays the result of this calculation,
which is the balance after subtracting
the first check.
Keys in the next number. Since a
calculation has just been performed,
do not press \; the next number
entered (13.7) is automatically
separated from the one previously in
the display (35.38).
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24 Section 1: Getting Started
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
-
10.14-
1053+
The preceding example demonstrates how the hp 12c platinum calculates just as
you would using pencil and paper (except a lot faster!):
Display
21.68
11.54
1,064.54
Pressing - subtracts the number just
entered from the number previously in
the display. The calculator displays
the result of this calculation, which is
the balance after subtracting the
second check.
Keys in the next number and
subtracts it from the previous
balance. The new balance appears
in the display. (It’s getting rather
low!)
Keys in the next number — the
paycheck deposited — and adds it to
the previous balance. The new,
current balance appears in the
display.
Let’s see this happening in a different type of calculation — one that involves
multiplying groups of two numbers and then adding the results. (This is the type of
calculation that would be required to total up an invoice consisting of several items
with different quantities and different prices.)
For example, consider the calculation of (3 × 4) + (5 × 6). If you were doing this
on paper, you would do the multiplication in the first parentheses, then the
multiplication in the second parentheses, and finally add the results of the two
multiplications:
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Section 1: Getting Started 25
=+×
+
Your hp 12c platinum calculates the answer in just the same way in RPN mode:
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
Display
3\4§
5\6§
+
Notice that before doing step 2, you did not need to store or write down the result
of step 1: it was stored inside the calculator automatically. And after you keyed in
the 5 and the 6 in step 2, the calculator was holding two numbers (12 and 5)
inside for you, in addition to the 6 in the display. (The hp 12c platinum can hold a
total of three numbers inside, in addition to the number in the display.) After step 2,
the calculator was still holding the 12 inside for you, in addition to the 30 in the
display. You can see that the calculator holds the number for you, just as you
would have them written on paper, and then calculates with them at the proper
time, just as you would yourself.
write down the results of an intermediate calculation, and you don’t even need to
manually store it and recall it later.
By the way, notice that in step 2 you needed to press \ again. This is simply
because you were again keying in two numbers immediately following each other,
without performing a calculation in between.
To check your understanding of how to calculate with your hp 12c platinum, try
the following problems yourself. Although these problems are relatively simple,
more complicated problems can be solved using the same basic steps. If you have
difficulty obtaining the answers shown, review the last few pages.
12.00
30.00
42.00
But with the hp 12c platinum, you don’t need to
*
Step 1: Multiply the numbers in the
first parentheses.
Step 2: Multiply the numbers in the
second parentheses.
Step 3: Add the results of the two
multiplications.
00.77)65()43(
)1427(
−
+
5
++
25.0
=
)3814(
21163
13.0
=
Although you don’t need to know just how these numbers are stored and brought back at just
*
the right time, if you’re interested you can read all about it in Appendix A. By gaining a more
complete understanding of the calculator’s operation, you’ll use it more efficiently and
confidently, yielding a better return on the investment in your hp 12c platinum.
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26 Section 1: Getting Started
Chain Calculations in ALG Mode
To do a chain calculation, you don’t need to press } after each operation, but
only at the very end.
For instance, to calculate
z 750 § 12 } z 360 } or
z 750 § 12 z 360 }
In the second case, the z key acts like the } key by displaying the result of 750
× 12.
Here’s a longer chain calculation:
This calculation can be written as: 456 – 75 ÷ 18.5 × 68 ÷ 1.9. Watch what
happens in the display as you key it in:
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
OO
456-75z
18.5§
68z
1.9}
12x750
you can enter either:
360
75456×−
5.18
Display
0.00
381.00
20.59
1,400.43
737.07
68
9.1
Clears any pending operations.
Subtracts 75 from 456.
Divides 381 by 18.5.
Multiplies by 68.
Divides by 1.9 and displays the
result.
Parentheses Calculations
In ALG mode, parentheses can be used in calculations to change the order in
which operations are evaluated. When there are pending open parentheses, the
status indicator will be shown in the display. As open parentheses are closed, the
expression contained within the parentheses is evaluated, from left to right. The
final result of a calculation will be displayed when you press the ³ key, and then
any pending parentheses will be closed. You can’t use more than 13 pending
(opened) parentheses at the same time.
For example, suppose you want to calculate:
8
)15(
−
Keying 8 ÷ 5 – 1 will calculate 8 ÷ 5 first and then the result (1.6) will have 1
subtracted from it (resulting in 0.6), which is not what is intended.
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( )
Section 1: Getting Started 27
If you want to calculate
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
OO
8zgØ5-
gÙ
1
³
8
, use the following keystrokes:
)15(
−
Display
0.00
5.00
4.00
2.00
Clears any pending operations.
No calculation is done.
Calculates 5 − 1.
Calculates
8
.
)15(
−
Storage Registers
Numbers (data) in the hp 12c platinum are stored in memories called “storage
registers” or simply “registers.” (The singular term “ memory” is sometimes used in
this handbook to refer to the entire collection of storage registers.) Four special
registers are used for storing numbers during calculations (these “stack registers”
are described in Appendix A), and another (called the “LAST X” register) is used
for storing the number last in the display before an operation is performed in RPN
mode. In addition to these registers into which numbers are stored automatically,
up to 20 “data storage” registers are available for manual storage of numbers.
These data storage registers are designated R
other storage registers — referred to as the “financial registers” — are reserved for
numbers used in financial calculations.
through R9 and R.0 through R.9. Still
0
Storing and Recalling Numbers
To store the number from the display into a data storage register:
1. Press ? (store).
2. Key in the register number: 0 through 9 for registers R
through .9 for registers R
through R.9.
.0
through R9, or .0
0
Similarly, to recall a number from a storage register into the display, press :
(recall), then key in the register number. This copies the number from the storage
register into the display; the number remains unaltered in the storage register.
Furthermore, when this is done, the number previously in the display is
automatically held inside the calculator for a subsequent calculation, just as the
number in the display is held when you key in another number.
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28 Section 1: Getting Started
Example:
computer, you store the cost of the computer ($1,250) and also the cost of a
printer ($500) in data storage registers. Later, the customer decides to buy six
computers and one printer. You recall the cost of the computer, multiply by the
quantity ordered, and then recall and add the cost of the printer to get the total
invoice.
Keystrokes Display
1250?0
500?2
;
Later that same day …
Keystrokes
(RPN mode)
;
:
6§
:
+
Before you leave to call on a customer interested in your personal
1,250.00
500.00
0
Turns the calculator off.
Display
500.00
1,250.00
7,500.00
2
500.00
8,000.00
Stores the cost of the computer in R0.
Stores the cost of the printer in R2.
Turns the calculator back on.
Recalls the cost of the computer to
the display.
Multiplies the quantity ordered to get
the cost of the computers.
Recalls the cost of the printer to the
display.
Total invoice.
Keystrokes
(ALG mode)
;
:
0
§
6
+:
2
³
Display
500.00
1,250.00
6.
500.00
8,000.00
Turns the calculator back on.
Recalls the cost of the computer to
the display.
Multiplies by the quantity ordered to
get the cost of the computers.
Recalls the cost of the printer to the
display.
Total invoice.
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Section 1: Getting Started 29
Clearing Storage Registers
To clear a single storage register — that is, to replace the number in it with
zero — merely store zero into it. You need not clear a storage register before
storing data into it; the storing operation automatically clears the register before
the data is stored.
To clear all storage registers at once — including the financial registers, the stack
registers, and the LAST X register — press fCLEARH.
This also clears the
*
display.
All storage registers are also cleared when Continuous Memory is reset (as
described on page 86).
Storage Register Arithmetic
Suppose you wanted to perform an arithmetic operation with the number in the
display and the number in a storage register, then store the result back into the
same register without altering the number in the display. The hp 12c platinum
enables you to do all this in a single operation:
1. Press ?.
2. Press +, -, §, or z to specify the desired operation.
3. Key in the register number.
When storage register arithmetic is performed, the new number in the register is
determined according to the following rule:
Storage register arithmetic is possible with only registers R
Example:
In the example on page 23, we updated the balance in your
through R
0
checkbook. Let’s suppose that because data is stored indefinitely in your
calculator’s Continuous Memory, you keep track of your checking account balance
in the calculator. You could use storage register arithmetic to quickly update the
balance after depositing or writing checks.
Keystrokes Display
58.33?0
58.33
Stores the current balance in register
.
R
0
fCLEARH is not programmable.
*
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.
4
30 Section 1: Getting Started
Keystrokes Display
22.95
13.7
10.14
1053
:
?-
?-
?-
?+
0
0
22.95
Subtracts the first check from the
balance in R
. Note that the display
0
continues to show the amount
subtracted; the answer is placed only
in R
.
0
0
0
0
13.70
10.14
1,053.00
1,064.54
Subtracts the second check.
Subtracts the third check.
Adds the deposit.
Recalls the number in R0 to check the
new balance.
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