Monthly Archives: January 2014

Tech/IT

Buttons on Standard Calculator

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On most of the calculators, you will find the following 7 buttons: MC, MR, MS, M+, M-, CE, C. What is the function of each button?

Let’s go over from the M* buttons:

  • MC: Memory Clear. Clears the number stored in the memory
  • MR: Memory Recall. Calls the number stored in the memory
  • MS: Memory Save. Save the number currently displayed in the memory
  • M+: Memory Plus. Increase the number saved in the memory by the number currently in display
  • M-: Memory Minus. Decrease the number saved in the memory by the number currently in display

How do we use this and when is this useful?
Let’s say you want to do the following equation on a standard calculator: (2*2) + (3*7) – (5*4)

  1. Calculate 2*2. Then press MS. Then you will see M on the display. This means a number is stored in the memory, which in our case would be 4.

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  2. Calculate 3*7. After you get 21 on the display, press M+. This will add 21 to our previous number stored in the memory, which is 4. The number stored in the memory will be 25 now. You can check by pressing MR. It will show you 25 on the display.

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  1. Calculate 5*4. After you get 20 on the display, press M-. This will subtract 20 from our previous number stored in the memory, which is 25. The number stored in the memory will be 5 now. You can check by pressing MR. It will show you 5 on the display, and now we have the answer to our equation.

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  1. Clear the memory by pressing MC. The M on you display will disappear.

Now what are C and CE buttons?

  • C: Clear. This will clear everything you input into the calculator
  • CE: Clear Entry. This will clear the last entry you input into the calculator.

imageIn this case, pressing CE will clear 5 only. Pressing C will clear everything including “3+3+3+” and “5”.

Some calculators have C/CE in one button. In this case, pressing the button once will function as CE, and pressing the button twice will function as C.

Standard calculator on Windows is used to explain the buttons, but these buttons work the same in all physical standard calculators. Some calculators have GT button, which stands for Grand Total. This will store the number that you get after pressing “=” button.

Tech/IT

Internet browser – basic concept

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We use internet browsers everyday to view websites. But how does it really work? No need for technical expertise. Let’s just look into the basic concept.

Imagine you want to order a pizza. You can order it online as well, but in this example, let’s assume you will order via phone call. Most of you will probably go through the following steps:

  1. Pick up your phone
  2. Dial the number of pizza store
  3. Store pick up your phone
  4. Place your order
  5. Pizza is delivered to you

What does this have to do with understanding how browsing the websites work? Let’s replace the above example like the following:

  • Phone –> Internet browser
  • Number of pizza store –> Website address
  • Pizza store –> Website’s server
  • Pizza order –> Clicking the contents/links
  • Delivery –> Displaying the website’s page

Then you can see the following steps:

  1. Open your Internet Browser –> Picking up your phone
  2. Enter the website address –> Dialing the number
  3. Browser connects to the server of the website –> Store picking up
  4. Click different links –> Placing order
  5. Contents are displayed –> Delivery

Basically, when you enter a website address, you are essentially trying to connect to a server. Then as you explore through the website and click (make requests) for different contents, browser is passing your request to the server of the website, and server is returning the contents to the browser to have it displayed.

Internet browsers are essentially the communication medium/tool between you and the website server.

However, depending on which internet browser you are using, you might find differences in layouts/displays of the website. This is because sometimes each browser processes the codes returned from the website’s server differently.