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10.4.3 Calculator Wrong!
- Thread starter alexprice
- Start date
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I'm using Panther and I get 86.8. But technically 40% = .4, so your answer is "right" as well. It depends on the order of operations.
alexprice said:
What your calculator is doing is this:
62 + (40%)
= 62 + 0.4
= 62.4
What my calculator is doing is this:
62 + (40% * 62)
= 62 + (0.4 * 62)
= 62 + 24.8
= 86.8
alexprice said:
mathematically 40% equals 0.4 . just check in EXCEL spreadsheets.
or 40% of 62 equals 62 times 0.4
what happened here is that in panther they followed the convention that the 40% is 40% of 62.
in tiger they followed the convention that excel is using.
both are correct.
alexprice said:
62 * 40%
+62
Probably... I'm not at my Mac. But it sounds like you need to get 40% of 62 then add the 62.
Or.... since you know 40% = .4 you could just do 62 * 1.4
alexprice said:
I don't see where there would be confusion. I think to implicitly compute 60 + 0.4*60 when you type 60 + 40% would create more confusion and is not a good way to build a calculator.
alexprice said:
You're not saying +40% of the last number. You're saying +40%. Percentages are just another way of writing decimals. You move the decimal 2 spots to the right, and you change from a decimal to a percentage. If you wanted to say +40% of the last number, you want to write 62 + (.4*62).
alexprice said:
You can't even use a calculator?
How does 62 + 40% = 62 + (40% of 62)?? In no way does typing in "40%" into your calculator imply that it's 40% of 62 (ie: 62 * 0.40).
Your way is confusing, and wrong. 62 *1.4 is what people do.
If you type:
that makes no sense from a mathematical perspective. 40% of what?
Ok, so you expect it to be smart and know that it's:
So then, what should this do?
Should it be:
Or be:
For reference, what I would do, mathematically, is:
60 + 40%
that makes no sense from a mathematical perspective. 40% of what?
Ok, so you expect it to be smart and know that it's:
60 + 40% of whatever came before
So then, what should this do?
25 + 60 + 40%
Should it be:
(25 + 60) + 40% of whatever came before ==> 119
Or be:
25 + (60 + 40% of whatever came before) ==> 109
For reference, what I would do, mathematically, is:
60 * 140%
How many "the OS X calculator is wrong!!!" threads are there going to be. It works fine, I've never had an issue with it.
mwpeters8182 said:
was just about to bring this up...
good grief... if apple can write an ENTIRE OPERATING SYSTEM, then i have faith that their calculator works... save for human error
I fully admit that maths isn't a subject I'm good with, the reason I thought it was wrong was because it didn't do it with 10.4.2.
Thanks for the replys, I do understand now.
The whole point in me using the calculator was that I wasn't very good with maths.
Alex
Thanks for the replys, I do understand now.
The whole point in me using the calculator was that I wasn't very good with maths.
Alex
The OP has a point so don't bash the guy for NOT doing anything wrong. Usually, on a REAL calculator, when you hit a number followed by the % key, it will take that percentage of whatever the result was on the display before entering in the percentage number. The point is that the Apple calculator in Tiger isn't behaving like a real calculator. Even the windows calculator will give the correct result.
If you don't believe me, try it on a good ol solar powered beauty...
62 + 40 % = 86.8
With that said, alexprice - please brush up on your math - knowing the way percentage's translate to decimals is a good skill...It will prevent you from being taken advantage of when you go to finance something or calculating a discount or a tip...
If you don't believe me, try it on a good ol solar powered beauty...
62 + 40 % = 86.8
With that said, alexprice - please brush up on your math - knowing the way percentage's translate to decimals is a good skill...It will prevent you from being taken advantage of when you go to finance something or calculating a discount or a tip...
alexprice said:
And the whole reason most people aren't good with Math is the calculator...
I digress...I love the look I get when I give more money than I need to a cashier so I wont get more bills and coins back...For example. If I buy something and the total is 5.78 and I give the cashier 11.03, they always look at me as to why I am giving the extra 1.03. My response is always "just trust me."
