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1. macint+(OP)[view] [source] 2019-11-26 22:03:03
I had to hunt online for a used HP when I took a college class in 2003(ish) because the final exam needed a calculator and I honestly had no idea how to use non-RPN (I'm sure I could have figured it out, but been much slower).

I'd been using RPN since high school.

replies(1): >>jrockw+N8
2. jrockw+N8[view] [source] 2019-11-26 23:18:48
>>macint+(OP)
> I honestly had no idea how to use non-RPN

I feel the same way. I typically use "dc" for all my calculation needs. I recently needed to do some calculations on my phone and was very confused that it "knows" the order of operations. I already knew what order I wanted the operations performed in, thankyouverymuch.

2 + 3 * 9 = 29 but 2 3 + 9 * p = 45, for example. Apparently you have to press = every time you want to use the sub-result in the next calculation. It is very confusing.

I am not sure why we even have infix operators in mathematics to begin with. It just causes problems.

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