Basic Features
4
Changing the Calculation Mode
After viewing the default settings, suppose you want to change the calculation mode from
Chain
to
RPN
. See Table 1-2.
Key Presses, the Shift Key, Secondary, and Tertiary Functions*
To execute the function associated with a key, press and release the desired key. However,
most of the calculators’ keys have more than one function: the first, or primary function, the
shifted, or secondary function, and, in some cases, a third, or tertiary function (see Figure 2).
* Tertiary functions do not apply to the HP 20b.
Actual
or
Cal.360
Calendar options for bonds and date calculations.
Default is
Actual
.
Pressing
I
toggles between these options.
Annual
or
Semiannual
Bond type.
Default is
Annual
.
Pressing
I
toggles between these options.
TVM
Standard
or
TVM
Canada
Activate or deactivate the compounding per year (
C/YR
) option in time value of money
(
TVM
) calculations. This option is primarily used for Canadian mortgage calculations. See
Chapter 4,
Canadian Mortgages: TVM Canada
for more information.
Pressing
I
toggles between these options.
Table 1-1 Mode Menu Settings
Setting (top line)
Description
Table 1-2 Changing the Calculation Mode
Keys
Display
Description
:u
Opens the Mode menu, starting with first setting
option,
FIX
, the number of digits displayed to the
right of the decimal point.
<<<
<<
(Press five times)
Scrolls to the current setting for the calculation
mode,
Chain
.
II
(Press two times)
Selects
RPN
as the active setting. Note the
RPN
annunciator to the right.
O
Exits the Mode menu and returns you to the
default calculator screen.