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Don't old HP scientific calculators have a similar syntax? It's actually pretty logical; there's a running total, and you decide what to do with the number you

by mNovak 7y ago

Don't old HP scientific calculators have a similar syntax? It's actually pretty logical; there's a running total, and you decide what to do with the number you just typed in, after typing it. Costs an extra button press to 'add' the first number to the total, I suppose.

7thaccount 7y ago
No, HP calculators were more efficient it would seem with their RPN. "20 ENTER 8 ENTER - 7 ENTER +" So you push 20 onto the stack and then 8 on the stack. Then you hit the minus key which returns 12 and puts that 12 on the stack, then you put 7 on the stack and click the plus key to give you 19.
- morcheeba 7y ago
  You only need the first ENTER to separate the numbers; the rest were optional: "20 ENTER 8 - 7 +"
  - avmich 7y ago
    Not in general, I guess; 20 - 8 * 7 would be "20 ENTER 8 ENTER 7 * -". So if you need to do first operation which is not the leftmost, you'd have to add another "ENTER".
    - thedudeabides5 7y ago
      7 replies in from my (downvoted) original post and people are still arguing about syntax. I rest my case
- Pinus 7y ago
  That will give you 20 0 14 on the stack (top to the right). After 20 ENTER 8 ENTER you have 20 8 8 on the stack (and the stack lifter disabled). - gets you 20 0; 7 ENTER gets you 20 0 7 7 (and the stack lifter disabled again); + gets you 20 0 14. If you want to compute 20 - 8 + 7, type 20 ENTER 8 - 7 + . As another comment points out, you only use ENTER to separate two numbers. Other ENTER:s are not optional, they are usually downright wrong, unless duplicating the number at the top of the stack is what you want. (Edit: as I am mentioning the stack lifter, I should probably say "bottom" rather than "top". The HP calculator stack was usually visualized as being above the display, with operations taking place at the display, i.e. at the bottom of the stack.)
- ruslan 7y ago
  Per what you say, it takes 9 key presses on HP and 8 key presses on a soviet to calc same expression. Which one is more effient ? ;)

by mNovak 7y ago

7thaccount 7y ago

No, HP calculators were more efficient it would seem with their RPN. "20 ENTER 8 ENTER - 7 ENTER +" So you push 20 onto the stack and then 8 on the stack. Then you hit the minus key which returns 12 and puts that 12 on the stack, then you put 7 on the stack and click the plus key to give you 19.

morcheeba 7y ago
You only need the first ENTER to separate the numbers; the rest were optional: "20 ENTER 8 - 7 +"
- avmich 7y ago
  Not in general, I guess; 20 - 8 * 7 would be "20 ENTER 8 ENTER 7 * -". So if you need to do first operation which is not the leftmost, you'd have to add another "ENTER".
  - thedudeabides5 7y ago
    7 replies in from my (downvoted) original post and people are still arguing about syntax. I rest my case
Pinus 7y ago
That will give you 20 0 14 on the stack (top to the right). After 20 ENTER 8 ENTER you have 20 8 8 on the stack (and the stack lifter disabled). - gets you 20 0; 7 ENTER gets you 20 0 7 7 (and the stack lifter disabled again); + gets you 20 0 14. If you want to compute 20 - 8 + 7, type 20 ENTER 8 - 7 + . As another comment points out, you only use ENTER to separate two numbers. Other ENTER:s are not optional, they are usually downright wrong, unless duplicating the number at the top of the stack is what you want. (Edit: as I am mentioning the stack lifter, I should probably say "bottom" rather than "top". The HP calculator stack was usually visualized as being above the display, with operations taking place at the display, i.e. at the bottom of the stack.)
ruslan 7y ago
Per what you say, it takes 9 key presses on HP and 8 key presses on a soviet to calc same expression. Which one is more effient ? ;)