DOCUMENT:Q187696 09-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Changes to Calculator in Service Pack 4 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:WinNT:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbFEA kbWinNT400sp4fix kbWinNT400sp4fea ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft BackOffice Server 4.0 SP4 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= This article describes changes made to the Calculator application in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4. MORE INFORMATION ================ Switching Between Standard and Scientific ----------------------------------------- In Service Pack 4 and later, Calculator now clears the display when switching between the Standard and Scientific views. To transfer numbers between Standard and Scientific view, follow these steps: 1. Click MS to store the displayed number. 2. On the View menu, click the desired view. 3. Click MR to recall the stored number. NOTE: A number typed in hexadecimal, octal, or binary format will be converted to decimal format when transferring from Scientific to Standard view. Understanding Extended Precision -------------------------------- Extended Precision, a new feature of Calculator, means that all operations are accurate to at least 32 digits. Calculator also stores rational numbers as fractions to retain accuracy. For example, 1/3 is stored as 1/3, rather than .333. However, errors accumulate during repeated operations on irrational numbers. For example, Calculator will truncate pi to 32 digits, so repeated operations on pi will lose accuracy as the number of operations increases. New Additional Information -------------------------- The following applies to all versions of the Calculator even though it is not documented in Service Pack 3 and earlier. Performing Calculations with Large Numbers ------------------------------------------ In the hexadecimal, octal, and binary number systems, Calculator displays only the lower digits of an answer when the result has more digits than your display size allows. This behavior mimics the way calculations work in computers. DWORD results can contain up to eight digits; Word results can contain up to four digits; and Byte results can contain up to two digits. For example, using the hexadecimal number system displayed as Word, the largest result you can generate is FFFF (equal to 65535 in decimal). If you double that number (FFFFx2), the answer is 1FFFE. This contains five digits, so Calculator will display only the lower four digits of the answer: FFFE. Additional query words: calc.exe ====================================================================== Keywords : kbFEA kbWinNT400sp4fix kbWinNT400sp4fea Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch kbAudDeveloper kbBackOfficeSearch Version : WinNT:4.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.