What’s New: CALC 1 by CalcFxC, LLC

What’s New:  CALC 1 by CalcFxC, LLC

Programmer/Author:  CalcFxC, LLC

Platform:  iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)

Price:  Up to $5.99 for the full, non-ad version

There is a free version, but it is with ads and you may not get all the features you want.  There are in-app purchases on the free version if you want. 

Apple App Store Link:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ad-free-calc-1-financial-calculator/id1073629173?mt=8

Web Site:  http://www.calcfxcllc.com/

This blog entry will focus on some of the update (as of 3/24/2016). 

I reviewed the app on a previous blog entry:  http://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-of-freecalcfxc.html

To review, CALC 1 (previously named CalcFxC), has focused calculators and formula calculators.  Focused calculators are calculators that are set on a specific theme or task.  This includes the general, time value of money, statistics, conversions, and general (scientific) calculators.    Hold any key for a second, and you will see help text that applies to the key.  Formula calculators are calculators that are based on equation solving.  This includes solving percentage problems, profit margin, effective interest rate vs nominal interest rate, permutations, combinations, probability density functions, and polynomial solvers.  You can also make a customized focused or formula calculator. 

We also have Form Calculators.  These are guided calculators that answer specific questions, such as finding the monthly payment of a loan, a time value of money worksheet, an amortization worksheet (which can be copied and emailed), depreciation, and dates. 

Some of the New Features

Value Preview

This is my favorite of the new update (as of 3/24/2016) is the value preview.  Any storage register, be it the time value of money, formula register, or variables, you will see the current value of the register printed directly on the key. 

Swap Key (iPhone/iPod Touch) takes you to Currency Conversion

The swap key takes you the currency conversion and automatically takes the number on the X Stack (bottom stack) as its argument.  The best part is that the most current conversion rates are used (assuming your device is connected to the internet).  Once conversion is complete, the results are placed on the X stack.

Chain Mode

New to CALC 1 is chain mode.  Most four-function, non-scientific calculators that you find operate on Chain Mode.   Operations in chain mode work on the number in the display (x-stack) in the order you press the key, ignoring the Order of Operations.  For example:

Pressing 7 [ + ] 2 [ x ] 5 [ = ] in chain mode returns 45.  (Under Order of Operations, the 7+2*5 = 17)

CALC 1 also has Algebraic and RPN entry modes. 

Form Calculator Results are placed in History

This not only transfers single amounts but also any applicable tables.  To see the details of any Form Calculator related history item, click on the information button (the blue I in a circle).  This is useful if you want to work with a lot of what-if scenarios or if you making a set of calculations that you want to refer to at a later time. 

Please check this app out, Roger Carey has a done a solid job on this calculator. 

This blog is property of Edward Shore, 2016.

HP 12C: Games, Black Scholes, It's History and Solver

At the request of Gene and Thomas Klemm,  here are some more articles and goodies regarding the classic HP 12C calculator:

Article:  "The HP-12C, 30 Years and Counting"  - Richard Nelson and Gene Wright.  

Published in the HP Solve web-letter, October 2011.  This article explains why Hewlett Packard's HP 12C has been a mainstream in the financial calculator market for more than 30 years.  The HP 12C was originally released in 1981. 

Some of the praises of the HP 12C include its long battery life, unclutter keyboard, programming ability,  and a good financial function set.  In 2003, Hewlett Packard released the Platinum Edition of the HP 12C. 

Link:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10022608/_HP-12C%2030%20Yrs%20%26%20Counting%20V6.pdf

Solving Polynomial Equations

In this article, Valentin Albillo shows how the cash flow feature of the HP 12C can be used to solve polynomial equations.  (Datafile V21 N2 - March/April 2002)

Link:

http://www.hpcc.org/datafile/V21N2/V21N2P35.pdf

Games on the HP 12C

Want some games on the HP 12C?  Check out eight programs programmed by Tony Hutchins:
(Datafile V25 N4 - July/August 2006)

Games include:

Craps:  Start by assigning a random seven digit decimal and storing it in [i] and your initial bankroll in [FV].  Each bet is placed in the display before pressing [R/S].  Each dice roll will show tt.xxxx: where tt = total of the dice, xxxx represents the two individual dice.  Example:  7.52:  you rolled a 7 and the dice showed a 5 and a 2.

Dealer/Lotto Routine:  This works with sample without replacement. 

Jive Turkey: Or for you The Price is Right fans, the Clock Game, minus the clock.  The score is indicated by the number of guess you needed to get the right number.  The secret number is between 0 and 99. 

Super Bagels:  Another guess the number game.

Sum of Digits: A number guess game that uses the sum of the digits.

Pontoon/Blackjack:  Simulate the drawing and strategy of each player.  Start by giving a seven-digit seed and storing it in [i].  Press [R/S] to draw new cards.  A negative score indicates a bust. 

Fruit Machine:  Slot machine simulator. 

Lunar Lander:  Land a rocket on the Moon - if you can.  It is a classic calculator game of the 1970s.

Link:  http://www.hpcc.org/datafile/hp12/12c_EightGames.pdf

Full Accuracy of Trigonometry Functions

Not to long ago, I posted two short programs that you can get rough approximations of sine and cosine. This article by Valentin Albillo presents a 99 step program where you can calculate trigonometric functions to full calculator accuracy:

http://web.archive.org/web/20121216113919/http://membres.multimania.fr/albillo/calc/pdf/DatafileVA003.pdf

(DataFile VA003)

Thanks to Jeff Kearns for this suggestion.

Black-Scholes

If you are looking to input an algorithm for Black-Scholes, this article may be what you need.  The article is presented by Tony Hutchins, featuring programs by Dr. Peter Carr (UCLA).

Link:  http://www.hpcc.org/datafile/V23N3/V23N3P25.pdf

(DataFile V23 N3 - May/June 2004)


Amazing what can be done with a financial programming calculator.   Here's to at least another 30+ years of the amazing HP 12C. 

This blog is property of Edward Shore - 2014