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Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by te_platt on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @09:30AM (#1298157)
If you want to work it out yourself first here is the trick. Set calculator to degree mode, enter a bunch of fives (5555 or 55555555), take the reciprocal, take the sin, note similarity to pi. Very fun article.
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by dutchflyboy on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @11:11AM (#1298442)
While the trick is quite nice, I personally just press the "PI" button...
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by gokhan on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @11:06AM (#1298427)
Calc's are funny.

Try 12345679 * 9x (where x < 10)

Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by csomar on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @11:20AM (#1298475)
So what will happen? (tried on all my calc's and they gave the same result as http://www.google.com/search?q=12345679+*+92, which I think it's correct).
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by CrazedGeek on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @11:58AM (#1298628)
Try 123456789 * 9 * 2.
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by csomar on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @12:10PM (#1298669)
So what result should I be expecting? I'm getting a correct result on my Sharp EL-506W
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by studer on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @12:28PM (#1298722)
12345679 * 9 * x where x is a single digit gives you nine copies of x.
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by est on Wednesday April 28, 2010 @02:46AM (#1300930)
> Try 123456789 * 9 * 2.

It's 12345679, not 123456789

Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by est on Wednesday April 28, 2010 @04:42AM (#1301088)
Here is how to get e using a calculator:

sinh(1) + cosh(1)

Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by hackermom on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @10:22AM (#1298275)
pi / 180 = 0.01745 (a value commonly used for degree<->radian conversion). 1 / 180 = 0.0055555. That's the connection between the "magic" constants used in this trick.

It brings an older, simpler, not nearly as interesting calculator "trick" to mind: 11111111 * 11111111.

Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by imurray on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @10:57AM (#1298393)
It brings an older, simpler, not nearly as interesting calculator "trick" to mind: 11111111 * 11111111.

  gnuplot> pr 11111111 * 11111111
  -2047269199
:-). For the intended result, people can put a '.' after one of the numbers to make it a double, or use a better calculator like bc or Python.
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by cliveholloway on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @02:27PM (#1299133)
Much too highbrow for me.

39103 * 136

Then turn your calculator upside down and read the result.

Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by hugh3 on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @10:23AM (#1298281)
Sure, but can anyone explain 5318008?
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by mhd on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @10:52AM (#1298376)
Walking upright shifted our focus away from butts?
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by est on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @10:33AM (#1298315)
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by jpeterson on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @12:13PM (#1298679)
Wow, I can't believe this made it to the top of Hacker News. Tranformation to Reddit complete!
Re:The math behind a neat calculator trick by Shamiq on Tuesday April 27, 2010 @01:33PM (#1298934)
Oh no.