I have a Canon TX-220H calculator. What does the decimal point switch
and rounding switch do? Please provide clear examples using EACH option:

* Decimal point switch - I've 2 options; 5/4 and a symbol of an arrow pointed down 
* Rounding switch - I've 5 options; +, 4, 2, 0 and F

Thank you.

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Clarification of Question by webmal-ga on 11 Jun 2004 02:50 PDT

I've stated the decimal point switch and rounding switch options the
other way around, it should be:

* Decimal point switch - I've 5 options; +, 4, 2, 0 and F
* Rounding switch - I've 2 options; 5/4 and a symbol of an arrow pointed down 

Thank you.

Hello Webmal

The rounding switch allows you to round number up, down or use 5/4
rounding.  This is easiest explained with an example.

Say you have 2.12345 showing on your screen, if you round this number
down you will get to 2.  If you round this number up you will get to
3.  With 5/4 rounding, if the fifth decimal is greater than or equal
to five, round the fourth decimal up by one; if the fifth decimal is
less than or equal to five, truncate after the fourth decimal. For
example with 5/4 rounding, 2.12345 equals 2.1235, and 2.12544 equals
2.1254.

The decimal point switch allows you to specify the number of numbers
after the decimal point.  So 0 would make 12.4636 equal to 12, 2 would
make it 12.46 and 4 would make it 12.4636.  F stands for floating
point and usually means that the decimal point "floats around" so that
you only ever have 12 digits on the screen (this usually depends on
the number of digits your calculator displays).  The + is the standard
setting that applies no rounding of the numbers.

I hope this helps.  If you have any further questions or queries on
this matter please ask for clarification and I will do my best to
help.

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Request for Answer Clarification by webmal-ga on 11 Jun 2004 05:01 PDT

For the rounding switch, your example is not clear - how can 2.12345
be rounded up to 3? Would you say the 5/4 rounding is more practical
for everyday use since it's more precise?

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Clarification of Answer by palitoy-ga on 11 Jun 2004 05:23 PDT

A better example for the rounding function would be 2.54321 - should
you round this number up or down?  Rounding it up would be 3 and down
would be 2.

Which is the most practical for everyday use depends on the context
the calculator is being used.  If you are always dealing with money I
would set it to 2 decimal places and the 5/4 rounding.

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Clarification of Answer by palitoy-ga on 11 Jun 2004 06:51 PDT

I should also point out that the rounding function will round to a
certain number of decimal places (as indicated with the decimal point
switch) and not necessarily to the nearest whole number.

A quick reminder on how rounding works can be found here:
http://www.classbrain.com/artaskcb/publish/article_27.shtml