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the % button on a calculator
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:44 pm
by s.dot
This may be the dumbest question I've ever asked, but what does it do?
5 / 3 % = .15
6 / 3 % = .18
anything % = 0
What's the equation taking place?
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:56 pm
by Chalks
I've often wondered this myself....
EDIT:
actually from the two examples you posted:
5 / 3 % = .15
6 / 3 % = .18
the result is (x * y) / 100
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:04 pm
by kalebaustin
Chalks wrote:the result is (x * y) / 100
Yeah just turns the answer to a percentage.
How useful eh?
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:56 pm
by s.dot
I'm a little bit confused on it's usage. Is it only applicable when a divide operation is performed?
8/8 % = .64 (8 * 8 = 64 /100 = .64) got it
8*8 % = .64 ... I just multiplied there, but it's the same as the divide above?
and it seems like 8/8 in percent would be 1 (100%). So it can't be the percent.
And how come 8% = 0? (is it (8*0)/100 ?)
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:06 pm
by s.dot
oh, i get it.
I think it's X * (Y/100) = Z
So if you needed to find 3 percent of 30, you'd go 30*3%
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:57 am
by alex.barylski
I always thought it was the same as the modulus operator.

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:56 am
by s.dot
Ok, now I finally got it right. As far as I know.
When you do an operation like 4*3%, when you press the % button, what shows up in the display is X(the second number) percent of Y(the first number).
so 3% of 4 is .12, which then when you hit =, the following equation takes place 4*.12 = .48
So the following equations are equal and true
4*3% = .48
4*.12 = .48

I spent quite a while confusing myself on something so simple.
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:27 am
by Scrumpy.Gums
How confusing!
When I type 4*3% in my calculator I get 0.12....
So, mine does something sensible....
3% = 0.03
4*3% = 4*0.03 = 0.12

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:29 am
by s.dot
Scrumpy.Gums wrote:How confusing!
When I type 4*3% in my calculator I get 0.12....
So, mine does something sensible....
3% = 0.03
4*3% = 4*0.03 = 0.12

Haha. Yes, 4*3% will display 0.12. (since 3% of 4 = .12). Then you hit the equal (=) button, and it gives you .48. You have to hit the equal because you never finished your equation.
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:00 am
by VladSun
My version
Code: Select all
X [+-] Y % == X [+-] (Y/100)*X
X [*/] Y % == X [*/] (Y/100)
It also performs the equal button functionality once.
Hitting the equal button has nothing to do with percentage operation. It will do its default function:
Code: Select all
X oper Y = (Z1)
= (Z1 oper Y = Z2)
= (Z2 oper Y = Z3)
= (Z3 oper Y = Z4)
= etc.
i.e. hitting equal sign will evulate the last operation with the last operand to the last result.