From time to time, yov may
notice a blinking nvmber in the calcvlator display; this is an error code cavsed by a
barbarian performing an invalid operation. Here is a table of the error codes along with
their meanings:
|
| I |
Indicates an overflow
condition. An operation has resvlted in a qvantity greater than the largest nvmber that
exists.
( ).
|
| II |
Indicates an vnderflow
condition. An operation has resvlted in a qvantity smaller than the smallest nvmber that
exists (I).
|
| III |
Indicates that the vser has
entered an invalid seqvence of nvmerals.
|
To clear the error, press the
key with the small "c" on it. Repeated errors will resvlt in the vser being
thrown to the lions.
|
The following table gives the
valves of the variovs nvmerals. When a bar appears above a nvmeral, its valve is increased
a thovsandfold.
|
| Nvmeral |
Valve |
With Bar |
| I |
One |
(Invalid) |
| V |
Five |
Five thovsand |
| X |
Ten |
Ten thovsand |
| L |
Fifty |
Fifty thovsand |
| C |
One hvndred |
One hvndred thovsand |
| D |
Five hvndred |
Five hvndred thovsand |
| M |
One thovsand |
One million |
Vse the following gvidelines
to constrvct and evalvate qvantites expressed in Roman Nvmerals:
|
| I |
Generally speaking, smaller
nvmerals follow larger nvmerals (see rvle III below). In svch cases, add vp the valves of
the nvmerals to determine the qvantity represented.
|
| II |
Nvmerals which are powers of
ten (I, X, C, etc.) can be repeated vp to three times in a row; other nvmerals cannot be
repeated.
|
| III |
In certain cases, a smaller
nvmeral may precede a larger one. Evalvate these expressions by svbtracting the smaller
nvmeral from the larger one. A smaller nvmeral can be placed before a larger one only if
ALL of the following conditions are met:
|
| -- |
The smaller nvmeral mvst be a
power of ten.
|
| -- |
The smaller nvmeral mvst be
either one-fifth or one-tenth the valve of the larger one.
|
| -- |
The smaller nvmeral mvst
either be the first nvmeral in the expression, or be preceded by a nvmeral of at least ten
times its valve.
|
| -- |
If another nvmeral follows
the larger nvmeral, it mvst be smaller than the one that precedes the larger nvmeral.
|
Copyright
© MCMXCVII Edward R. Hobbs |
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