- So, recently there was an update to the calculator. I usually read reviews to make sure nothing was messed up with the update. I learned from the reviews that the calculator does not show percentages right, so I decided to check it. And it's true, pressing the percent key results in some odd reactions. I guess I never noticed it before because I always typed the decimal version for percentages (ie for 55% I would just type .55). Anyone know why they can't fix such an issue? Apparently it's been that way for a while according to the reviews...
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB1011-03-14 06:43 PMLike 0 - There was a very long thread or threads on how BB's Calculator does percentages. It does not follow the 'standard' established by quickie calculators. Math types agreed that it is doing it correctly but not what folks expect.southlander likes this.11-03-14 08:42 PMLike 1
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?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB1011-03-14 09:13 PMLike 0 -
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB1011-03-14 09:14 PMLike 0 - But that's the thing, it inserts it into the equation, it doesn't do 100 - 20% = 80. The moment you press the percent key, it makes it 100 - 80... So if you want to actually USE the result, you'll have to delete the whole thing and type the number again, otherwise you'd be including the original number into the equation and it ruins the whole thing. For a nice round number like 80 that's not an issue, but if it's a long decimal then you have issues...
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB10
Posted via CB1011-03-14 10:52 PMLike 0 -
No matter how you try to spin it just so you won't have to admit BB did something wrong, it's not the ideal way for that to be implemented...11-03-14 11:05 PMLike 0 - It happens to work out for that exact situation, but what about multiplication? 110 x 20% = 22 but in this calculator 110 x 20% = 2420. Or what about division? 110 / 20% = 550, while in this calculator, 110 / 20% = 5
No matter how you try to spin it just so you won't have to admit BB did something wrong, it's not the ideal way for that to be implemented...
What version are you on?
Posted via CB10 on my VZW STL100-4 running 10.3.1.821/800 hybrid11-03-14 11:20 PMLike 0 - It happens to work out for that exact situation, but what about multiplication? 110 x 20% = 22 but in this calculator 110 x 20% = 2420. Or what about division? 110 / 20% = 550, while in this calculator, 110 / 20% = 5
No matter how you try to spin it just so you won't have to admit BB did something wrong, it's not the ideal way for that to be implemented...
110 / 20% does not equal 550, 110 / 20% = 110 / 22 = 5, the BlackBerry calculator agrees again.
I believe you are mistaking 110 x 0.2 with 110 x 20%. They are different.
Posted via CB10J Morehouse and AnimalPak200 like this.11-03-14 11:28 PMLike 2 - The problem with all these examples is that you just show a calculation without the corresponding word problem first.
So let's for example ask what is 20% of 110? This I would calculate as 110 x 0.2 = 22 and I wouldn't bother with the percent key at all. But If I use the percentage key I get 110 x 20% = 2420 so I get the wrong answer for this kind of word problem at least on 10.2.1.
In 10.2.1 the calculator is answering the question what is 110 multiplied by 20% of 110. A stupid way to interpret the formula full stop.11-03-14 11:55 PMLike 0 - It happens to work out for that exact situation, but what about multiplication? 110 x 20% = 22 but in this calculator 110 x 20% = 2420. Or what about division? 110 / 20% = 550, while in this calculator, 110 / 20% = 5
No matter how you try to spin it just so you won't have to admit BB did something wrong, it's not the ideal way for that to be implemented...
And the answer is correct as what you said.
And when I tap %, it changes my 20% to 0.2. Which gives the correct answer as you mentioned.
My calculator is version 10.1.3.34
With due diligence from my Astro on Z30STA100-2/10.3.1.101611-04-14 12:18 AMLike 0 - No, the correct way to interpret the formula.
If you want 20% of 110 your brain thinks ok I better type in 110 x 0.2. The BlackBerry Calculator has scientific functions, it should act like a scientific calculator.
Posted via CB1011-04-14 12:18 AMLike 0 - 110 x 20% does not equal 22 and I wouldn't be too impressed if a calculator told me otherwise. 110 x 20% = 110 x 22 = 2420, the BlackBerry calculator agrees.
110 / 20% does not equal 550, 110 / 20% = 110 / 22 = 5, the BlackBerry calculator agrees again.
I believe you are mistaking 110 x 0.2 with 110 x 20%. They are different.
Posted via CB10
Look at the equation using algebra, not numerical examples.
Let a = a real number
Let b = a percentage of a, such that b=ac, where c is the decimal representation of the percentage (a constant).
The four fundamental operations are then:
a + b = a + ac = a(1+c)
a - b = a - ac = a(1-c)
a/b = a/ac = 1/c
a*b = a(ac) = ca^2
The BlackBerry calculator is correct with all of these operations.
The first two will be the most used equations when calculating tax, discounts, and fees. For example, if you are paying for a $65 meal and have 13% tax:
a=65, c=0.13 -> b=ac=(65)(0.13)=8.45
a + b = 65 + (65)(0.13) = 65+8.45 = 73.45
I'm certain you will find the BlackBerry calculator gets the same answer.
Posted with my BlackBerry Z10!oystersourced likes this.11-04-14 12:23 AMLike 1 - Maybe that is reverse polish notation? I think that is what you are thinking. But that is not how most people calculate, BlackBerry calculator app is not a HP scientific calculator.
The result you expect begs the question 20% of what? I would suggest the correct formula for what you expect is 110 x (110 x 20%) for most people.
I stand by my original comment. I am right, you are wrong
Posted via CB10WWBlondieDo likes this.11-04-14 12:27 AMLike 1 - BlackBerry calculator app is not a HP scientific calculator.
The result you expect begs the question 20% of what? I would suggest the correct formula for what you expect is 110 x (110 x 20%) for most people.
I stand by my original comment. I am right, you are wrong
Posted via CB10
Posted via CB1011-04-14 12:34 AMLike 0 - actually BlackBerry makes it easier for the common man
Usually one wants to do something with the derived percentage value. Usually its either, add or subtract!
so If you want to know what the total bill amount to a service is: Room Rent 5000 + 12.36% Tax
would be: 5000+12.36%.
The beauty of it is, the % value is immediately shown in the equation!
So it would be 5000+618 = 5618
Just needs a little getting used to. Be warned though, you may end up disliking the regular calculators after a whileLast edited by imaginesaran; 11-04-14 at 02:46 AM.
11-04-14 12:41 AMLike 0 - Maybe that is reverse polish notation? I think that is what you are thinking. But that is not how most people calculate, BlackBerry calculator app is not a HP scientific calculator.
The result you expect begs the question 20% of what? I would suggest the correct formula for what you expect is 110 x (110 x 20%) for most people.
Posted via CB10
In other words, to say "20 percent" and expect an answer is ludicrous, as it is an incomplete expression.
Instead you have to say "20 percent of (a quantity)".
The BlackBerry calculator completes the operand for you based on a very common application of the percentage: discounts and value added taxes.
When you go into a store you see, "it's 20% off" (the original price), which corresponds to original price minus 20% of the original price (org-org*.20)
Conversely you see an item and it says, "plus 5% sales tax", which corresponds to price plus 5% of the price (price+0.05*price)
This is exactly quite literally what the calculator does when you press the percentage key. If you enter as you would speak it: "fifty (dollars) plus ten percent", you get 50+5=55
Not sure how there is any confusion other than the fact that people misinterpret the term "percent" to be synonymous with fractions having 100 as their denominator.
Posted via CB10southlander likes this.11-04-14 12:49 AMLike 1 - ^^^ this makes sense to me..
With due diligence from my Astro on Z30STA100-2/10.3.1.1016southlander likes this.11-04-14 12:51 AMLike 1 -
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB10WWBlondieDo likes this.11-04-14 01:40 AMLike 1 - 110 x 20% does not equal 22 and I wouldn't be too impressed if a calculator told me otherwise. 110 x 20% = 110 x 22 = 2420, the BlackBerry calculator agrees.
110 / 20% does not equal 550, 110 / 20% = 110 / 22 = 5, the BlackBerry calculator agrees again.
I believe you are mistaking 110 x 0.2 with 110 x 20%. They are different.
Posted via CB10
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB1011-04-14 01:42 AMLike 0 -
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB1011-04-14 01:47 AMLike 0 - So all of you guys defending the calculator, better not update it to the latest version because apparently they fixed what wasn't broken...
Anyway, like I've said, I never even noticed it before because I never used it. If where I live charged 6% tax and I wanted to know the total of something I'll simply multiply it by 1.06...
?Posted without the aid of AutoCorrect with my physical keyboard via CB1011-04-14 01:53 AMLike 0 - Interesting thread.
I just compared my Z30 running 10.3.1 to the calculator in Win 10 beta: They both works the same.
A - p% is changed to A - (A x p / 100) as soon as you press the % sign.
It does make sense to relate p% to A and not just use p/100. It seems like a way to enter "remove p% from A" on the calculator.
A x p% is changed to A - p / 100 as soon as you press the % sign.
Again p% is relative to A due to multiplication.
I can definitively see the use for this behaviour, but I have never used/noticed it before. If I had to subtract p% from A, I'm just used to type A x (1-p%) where p% is p/100.
My daughter is in 6th grade and have been working with percentages for a while now. In general they learn that p% = p/100 (e.g. 50% = 0.5). It's obvious a person like her would have to learn how the calculator works.
I actually like the way it works. You have to know it but it's usefull.11-04-14 02:44 AMLike 0 - I find the way this calculator treats percentages very clear and helpful. Hope they won't "fix" it. I can relate to OP: when one wants to just find out What is 26 percent of 6532? it's an extra step. However in practice for me I always want to know the result of addition or subtraction of some percentage from/to a principal value ? and in this BlackBerry provides the best approach.11-04-14 03:29 AMLike 0
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