The calculator comes from the Latin word ‘calculus’ which means to count with pebbles. The calculator has become one of the most used applications in the entire world. But do you know how does a calculator work? No? Don’t worry, we will tell you.
A calculator’s complexity is determined by the range of functions that it can perform. Basically, the design of the calculator is based on the integrated circuits, also known as chips or microchips. These chips make use of a transistor to perform the mathematical functions. It is these transistors that decide the difficulty of the mathematical problem that the calculator can handle. More simply put, if your calculator has a number of transistors, it will be able to perform a more tedious task and vice versa.
Being an electronic device, the calculator works on binary numbers only. The numbers entered by us are converted into binary digits inside the calculator. It’s done through the chips where they switch the transistor on and off through electricity.
The desired calculation happens on these binary digits. The result is displayed to us only after converting the binary result into the language that we can understand.
(Image Courtesy: Citizen Calculator)
How does the Display Work?
You must have noticed that the digits on any electronic device are made up of small segmented lines. These lines are made up of pixels. It’s because the calculator converts the pressed button’s entered value into the binary language (through integrated circuits and transistors). It then lights up certain segments of line on the display that a layman has entered numerically, this is how calculators work!
(Image Courtesy: Dixon Insurance Service)
More on: How Do Computers Work?
When you push a button on the calculator, the rubber touches the layer just beneath it thereby making the electrical contact. All this while the processor chip remains active and remembers what values and commands are entered.
Through the integrated circuit in the processor chip, the related numbers and operational commands are shown on the digital display screen. As soon as you hit the ‘=’ button, it will perform the operation on the values entered (after converting them into binary) and quickly convert the binary result into an understandable value (that hits the layman’s brain).
(Image Courtesy: The Museum of HP Calculators)
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