The use of pocket electronic calculators in scientific work

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Abstract
Pocket electronic calculators are nowadays readily available, and provide an intermediate level of computing capacity which is useful for many scientific calculations. The basic problem in their use is the re-writing of calculations in a form which exploits the operating characteristics of the particular calculator being employed. Even a simple four-function calculator without memory can be used quite effectively. The automatic squaring operation provided on many such machines makes it possible to compute quickly the basic trigonometric and other functions which are often needed in scientific work, with an accuracy superior to that of traditional five-figure tables. The extraction of square and cube roots, even if not provided automatically, is quickly performed by using iterative methods. Iterative methods are also useful in solving polynomial and differential equations of the kind which appear in physics, and work particularly well with programmable calculators.

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