Calculator Accuracy & Usefulness

[Csaba Tizedes]

(05-24-2015 01:37 AM)Garth Wilson Wrote:  I do electronics circuit design in my job. I don't remember ever needing anywhere near ten digits. I usually keep my HP-41cx on ENG 03 display mode. I started with the slide rule too (1970's), and the reason for moving to a calculator was that the slide rule was not programmable.

Totally agree, but I started my engineering work only in 2005.
My calculators tipically in ENG3 mode and it's normally enough for all the calculations.
If I don't want to disturbed with too many digits, the ENG2 is the great mode and I use for the fourth digit the CLEAR PREFIX (on my 15C) or SHOW (32SII).
It means three significant digit always visible, that is 0.1% precision at least. In normal engineering (mechanical) this is far enough.