Equals (=) Is Not the Way to Go
Use the total key (* or T) to sum your numbers
The easiest way to think of a ten-key calculator is as an adding machine (many of which print this nice little tape for you as proof that you did indeed add that staggering column of numbers correctly). Its sole function is to add numbers. Positive numbers, negative numbers, all kinds of numbers. If it's of decent quality, it will even tell you how many numbers!
The item count is a neat feature that can also stupify if you haven't had much experience with a ten-key--or if you just didn't bother to read the instructions that came with your calculator. However, I'll explain all that in a few moments.
Adding numbers on the ten-key
This is not as intuitive as you might think. I recently answered an email where someone asked me if I had it wrong below. Trust me. I don't. I'll include the email and my response below my tutorial to help make my point clear.
Okay, so we want to add some numbers.
6+5+9+8
Now, do I have to tell you to turn on your calculator? (Please don't make me. I'm not sure I can handle the stress.)
- Press: [ C/CE (or C) ] [ C/CE (or C) ]
- Press: [ 6 ] [ + ] [ 5 ] [ + ] [ 9 ] [ + ] [ 8 ] [ + ]
See your total there on the screen now? I hope it shows 28. If it doesn't, start over at #1 above. Quickly, now! We're moving on here. - Press: [ * (or T) ]
Nothing happened, did it? That's all right. Nothing was supposed to happen. If you had hit the clear button before you pressed the *, your calculator wouldn't have printed the total or concluded the calculation.
Adding and subtracting numbers on the ten-key
Wow, that was easy, agreed? So, now let's change things up a bit. We'll add and subtract some numbers.
6+5-9-8
- Press: [ C/CE (or C) ] [ C/CE (or C) ]
- Press: [ 6 ] [ + ] [ 5 ] [ + ] [ 9 ] [ - ] [ 8 ] [ - ]
See your total there on the screen now? I hope it shows —6 or 6.— depending how your calculator shows negative numbers. If it doesn't, start over at #1 above. The thing to remember here is that the calculator is going to ADD everything you input with the keys. So if you want to subract something, you have to enter it as a negative number or, if it's easier to remember, think of it as telling the machine you want to add into the total the number 6 you just entered, you want to add in the 5, take away or subtract the 9, and take away or subtract the 8. But you can't tell the machine to do these things with a number until you've entered the number itself! ***[see below for some further clarification] - Press: [ * (or T) ]
A recent email about adding and subtracting on a ten key calculator
The email
You provide this example:
6+5-9-8
1. Press: [ C/CE (or C) ] [ C/CE (or C) ]
2. Press: [ 6 ] [ + ] [ 5 ] [ + ] [ 9 ] [ - ] [ 8 ] [ - ]
Shouldn't the + that I highlighted in red actually be a minus?
My response
Actually, no. Think of it this way: the 6 is added to the total (starting from 0), the 5 is added to the total, the 9 is subtracted from the total, and the 8 is subtracted from the total. With the ten key printing calculator, this is how you have to input the numbers to get the answer. :)
Another Way to Think of Adding and Subtracting on the Ten Key
Here's a short bit of further clarification for those who still might be having trouble with this concept. Think of it like this. You've just punched in a [ 6 ], now you have to tell the ten key what to do with it, so you punch in a [ + ], then the [ 5 ], and you have to tell it what to do with that one, which again is to add it, then the [ 9 ], which you must tell it to subtract so you follow with a [ - ]!
We're going to move on to mixed calculations now, because multiplication and division is that same old stuff you're used to with a pocket calculator, but wow, isn't it going to be fun to add, subtract, multiply and divide within the same calculation! Move on to mixed calculations...
- Here's the 10 key calculator I recommend: SHARP EL-1801PIII
