What does memory buttons mean on a calculator?

Answer 1

Memory is a function that is part of nearly all basic four-function and scientific calculators. The memory is basically a variable that can be used to store a single number separately from the one on the screen, for later recall.

The buttons used to manipulate the memory usually have these labels (not all calculators have them):

M+ Adds the number on the screen to the one in the memory.

M- Subtracts the number on the screen from the one in the memory. On calculators with no M- button, you can do this by negating the number and pressing M+

MR (or RCL) Enters the number in the memory onto the screen.

MRC Pressing this once is the same as MR. Pressing it twice will clear the memory.

MS (or STO, M=>) Stores the number on screen into the memory, overwriting whatever number is already in the memory.

Garphing and CAS calculators don't have a single 'memory' variable, but will allow you to store numbers into arbitrarily named variables like x using commands similar to:

Define x = 5 x := 5 5 -> xStores 5 into the variable x.

x Displays the value of x on screen.

x ² + 5 x - 14 What use would a CAS calculator be if you couldn't use x in an expression?