The scientific calculator is a general tool for performing basic arithmetical and scientific/mathematical calculations.

The calculator allows a calculation to be built up by via calculator buttons, keyboard entry and pasting text. The mode in which the calculator is operating influences when the calculation is performed. There are currently two modes of operation (manual and automatic calculation) and the toggle button Switch Auto-Calculation On/Off is used to move between them (with the default mode being manual calculation). In both cases a calculation is peformed when = is pressed or typed, or Enter is chosen. However, in automatic calculation mode, a calculation is also triggered when a button representing a unary operator/function, such as sqrt or sin, is pressed. So whether this is required or not should determine which mode is chosen for the calculator.

The calculator stores the last ten calculations performed on it in its history. Three of these historical calculations are viewable at any one time, but the ones shown can be changed by scrolling through the history using the up and down arrows to the right of the calculator display. In addition, the result of any valid historical calculation can be readily used in a new calculation by clicking on the Use button for that calculation.

The calculator buttons are present both for forming the calculation and also as a guide to the allowed characters and operators/functions. However, if JavaScript is disabled, the buttons are also disabled and are thus not useable for entering calculation text.

The calculator allows calculations to be performed in base number systems up to 16. Not all characters and operators/functions are supported in each base; if the associated button is disabled it implies that the calculator does not support it.

When the base number system is updated (e.g. from decimal to hexadecimal) the calculator attempts first to calculate any required result in the previous base number system, and, if successful, then performs the conversion.

The calculator supports the operators/functions given in the list below. Where there is a restriction on which base number system(s) the operator/function can be used in, this is also given. Also, since the calculator understands more than one notation for certain operators/functions, a complete list of the understood notations is specified in brackets for each operator/function...

The characters that can be entered to form the operands of a calculation are dependent on the base number system, e.g. A is only allowed in base-11 or higher. Some extra points concerning operands are listed below...

Some extra points to note about the calculator are...

Associated tool link: http://www.coggit.com/tools/scientific_calculator.html