About SciCalc - the first scientific calculator for the Apple Newton™
Version 1.0b4
SciCalc is a simple implementation of a standard (i.e. NOT Reverse Polish or 'RPN') scientific calculator for the Apple Newton MessagePad and similar PDAs. If you do find problems, please let me know so that I can rectify them in the next release.
To load it into a Newton MessagePad, you must have a Mac (on which you should be reading this!) and a Connection Kit. Simply connect your Mac to your Newton, and install the Calc104.pkg file as a Newton application, down the connection to your Newton.
New bug-fixes:
Some kind users reported odd behaviour e.g. when finding the sine of Pi. Initially, this appeared to be a problem of accuracy, which worried me (as I use the standard Newton SANE routines). However, after considerable investigation, it transpired that when converting from a number to the display, small or large numbers could automagically be expressed using scientific notation (e.g. -4.1056e-08). However, when converting from the display to a number, the reverse function could not cope with such formats! I have now implemented my own routines to handle this. However, beware of rounding problems - if you keep pressing the = key, you will see small numbers grow, and large ones shrink. The maths routines used are *not* designed for high precision in the face of such extreme numbers, I am afraid.
Recent features:
I have now implemented my own error handling routines. Although these do not always give ideal messages, and very occasionally appear to result in a recurrent error (which may require a reset to stop - if this happens to you, please mail me!), they are much better than the previous ones.
The calculator now has its own icon in the Extras drawer.
Bug fixes previous versions:
In the first posted version, an error (-8007) occurred when dealing with numbers using the thousands separator (e.g. ','). This has now been fixed and thousands, millions, etc., should now work fine throughout. I also hope that this is independent of the number format being used (i.e. what the thousands separator is).
Current features:
All floating point numeric calculations normally found on a basic 'scientific' calculator, including a wide range of trig and exp/log functions.
A single number display, edited by button use only.
Two standard financial functions.
Two user-accessible memorys, which include summation functions.
Constants Pi and e available from keys.
Conversion to and from radians and degrees.
Informative error handling
Transparent use of 'fixed point' notation (e.g. 3,456.789) and 'scientific' notation (e.g. 3.456789e-05) as required by numbers
Planned features:
Hexadecimal math (possibly even with hexadecimal point!).
Copying of result to other Newton apps.
Note that currently the hex keys (A-F, and the radio button to switch between hex and dec) are non-functional.
All routines used are standard built-in Newton math routines, except for the degree to radian conversions, which are simple arithmetic ones.
Note on key naming:
x^y is 'x to the power of y'
sqt is 'square root'
exp is 'e to the power of'
ln is 'log to the base e'
log is 'log to the base 10'
d>r is convert degrees to radians
r>d is convert radians to degrees *** note that all trig is performed in radians***
sin, cos, tan are as they say
asin, aco, ata are arcsine, arccosine and arctangent
sinh, csh, tnh are hyperbolic sine, cosine and tangent
asih, ach, ath are hyperbolic arcsine, arccosine, and arctangent
erf is the error function
erc is the errorc function
ga is the gamma function
annuity calculates the present value factor of an annuity at a given interest rate over the specified periods, the interest rate being per period. The first number entered is the rate, the second the periods. Enter as <rate><annuity><periods><=>.
compound calculates the compounded interest factor over the specified number of periods. The first number entered is the rate, the second the periods, as per annuity.
The keys to the right of, and below, 'M1,2' are the memory access keys - the left column for M1, the right for M2. In each case, the keys mean:
-> saves current display to memory
+ adds current display to memory and stores result in memory
<- replaces current display by memory
C clears memory contents to 0
Pi produces the value of Pi (3.14159....)
e produces the value of e (2.71828....)
clear all clears everything except for the two memories
CE clears only the rightmost character in the display (works on all display entries!)
+/- negates the sign of the display, i.e. + becomes - and vice versa.
