We often recommend using software such as Splash Maths or ArithmeType etc for specialist accessible maths programs. Yet some students simply need access to a scientific calculator that is accessible via their input method.  There are solutions such as Desmos which provide a full range of accessible online maths software, however, they take up screen-space and are not always fully keyboard accessible.

Ace Centre has created a Scientific Calculator, inspired by collaboration with students we work with and CandLE, this solution is smaller, can be operated entirely with keyboard shortcuts and can run offline. Click the download button above to get the free offline version or click here.

An online version of this calculator is also available for Grid 3 which you can find by clicking here to access it from Online Grids.

To use, install the software, then install the grid set which you will find on your desktop. There will be a shortcut to the web page which is then installed on your PC if you want to use that with anything else.

More info:

Basic Math

• 2 + 2 = 4
• 1/2 × 20 = 10
• √16 = 4
• π × 2 = 6.283185307

Scientific Functions

• sin(45) = 0.7071067812
• log(100) = 2
• √(π) = 1.7724538509

Random Numbers

• rand() = 0.7324846372         # Random number between 0-1
• floor(rand() * 6) + 1 = 4    # Roll a die (1-6)
• floor(rand() * 100) + 1 = 42 # Random number 1-100

Algebraic Expressions

• x^2 + 2x + 1                 # Quadratic expression
• 2x + 2y                      # Linear expression with variables

Memory Operations

• Store current result: Ctrl/⌘ + P (M+)
• Subtract from memory: Ctrl/⌘ + M (M-)
• Recall memory: Ctrl/⌘ + R (MR)

Line References with @

Maybe slightly easier that using M+,M- etc you can reference previous results using the @ symbol followed by the line number. Each line in the history is numbered for easy reference.

1. 10 + 5 = 15
2. 20 + 12.5 = 32.5
3. @2−@1 → (32.5)−(15) = 17.5

Examples

• @1 references the result from line 1
• 1000 – @3 subtracts line 3’s result from 1000
• @2 * @1 multiplies results from lines 2 and 1
• floor(@1 * 6) uses line 1’s result in a function

The calculator will show both your expression with @ references and the expanded calculation with actual values.

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Enter or = – Evaluate expression
• Escape – Clear workpad
• ↑ – Previous expression
• ↓ – Next expression
• Alt/⌘ + D – Toggle Degrees/Radians
• Ctrl + (0-9) – Set decimal places

Tips

• Brackets are automatically completed as you type
• History is scrollable and expressions can be recalled
• Click the DP button or use Ctrl + number to set decimal places
• Toggle between degrees/radians for trigonometry
• Unicode symbols can be typed directly or using text equivalents

Video Demonstration: