I have another interesting observation: the UNIX calculators don't give a choice, but the windows Calculator gives an option to select "Scientific" or "Standard" mode.
In scientific mode, I got, 1+2*3=7 In standard mode, I got, 1+2*3=9 May be kcalc defaults to the scientific mode! | > _Any_ calculator that isn't a piece of crap will follow the | standard | > precedence rules. Those rules _must_ be obeyed otherwise the real | > numbers that everyone loves so much would not even form a | field [this | > will probably not mean anything to you but...] | > | > If you want 1*2+5*50 to be equal to 350 then enter is as | > (1*2+5)*50=7*50=350 | > | > AFAIK, a $5 calculator will follow precedence.. | > | > I hope you realize your error by now.. | | Well, let's see. I have two cheap calculators right here, one | a nearly 20-year old Casio FX-115 scientific calculator, and | the other a fairly new Texas Instruments TI-1795SV | (four-function with memory). Both are infix, not RPN. | | Casio: 1+2*3=7 | TI: 1+2*3=9 | | I suspect that "scientific" vs. "four-function" is the | distinction here. The scientific calculator has parenthesis | buttons to facilitate entering complex expressions, while the | four-function does not. | | Your math-theory objection is really irrelevant to all this. | For a four-function calculator used for simple accounting | tasks, you don't want it to get too clever with the numbers | you're entering, because mostly you're working your way down | a column entering numbers in a sequence. You need a running | total after each one, which would make no sense if the | calculator was waiting for you to finish so it could go back | and apply precedence rules. | | Craig -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]