Exploring Calculator Display Limits

Exploring Calculator Display Limits

Investigate how a calculator rounds and displays large products when its display is limited to 9 digits.


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Open-ended question 1

What types of numbers result in an OVERFLOW display? Why?

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Open-ended question 2

What range of numbers result in a calculated product being displayed? Why could these products be displayed?

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Open-ended question 3

Were there any values that displayed in a way that surprised you?

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Open-ended question 4

Why would a calculator round the answer to a product?

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