Calculating Tools: English Vocabulary List

a small electronic device or software used to do mathematical operations

"The calculator is on the desk."

"She used her phone as a calculator to add up the total cost of the groceries before going to the checkout counter so she would not be surprised by the final amount."

a specialized calculator designed for solving complex mathematical and scientific equations, commonly used by students, engineers, and scientists

"The scientific calculator computes logarithms."

"The scientific calculator computes logarithms and trigonometric functions for advanced math and science classes."

a type of calculator equipped with a built-in printer that produces a physical record of calculations

"The printing calculator produces a paper receipt."

"The printing calculator produces a paper receipt and is often used in accounting for record keeping."

a type of calculator that allows users to write and execute customized programs to automate complex calculations

"The programmable calculator performs complex functions."

"The programmable calculator stores formulas and can run custom programs written by the user."

a type of calculator that operates on a postfix notation system, where operators follow their operands, offering simplicity and efficiency in engineering and scientific calculations

"RPN calculator uses reverse Polish notation."

"RPN calculator uses reverse Polish notation and does not use parentheses because operators follow numbers."

a device that performs arithmetic operations through mechanical means, often using gears, levers, and other physical mechanisms, predating electronic calculators

"The mechanical calculator has gears and levers."

"The mechanical calculator has gears and levers and was used before electronic computers became available."

a mechanical or electronic device designed for performing arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division

"The calculating machine adds large numbers quickly."

"The calculating machine adds large numbers quickly by pressing keys that turn internal wheels."

a set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division, invented by John Napier in the 17th century

"Napier's bones were an early calculating device."

"Napier's bones were an early calculating device using rods marked with multiplication tables to simplify arithmetic."

a manual calculating tool with rows of beads or counters on rods or wires used for basic arithmetic operations

"The reckoning board is a medieval counting board."

"The reckoning board is a medieval counting board with sliding tokens used before the abacus."

a tool with marked rods or sticks used in ancient math, especially in Chinese and Japanese traditions

"Counting rods were used in ancient China."

"Counting rods were used in ancient China for calculations and are placed in a grid representing decimal places."

a mechanical calculator developed in the late 19th century, featuring multiple rows of keys corresponding to digits

"The comptometer had a column of keys."

"The comptometer had a column of keys for each digit and was the first commercially successful key driven calculator."

a mechanical calculator designed by Charles Babbage in the 19th century, intended to perform mathematical calculations automatically by the method of finite differences, considered a precursor to modern computers

"The difference engine was an early mechanical computer."

"The difference engine was an early mechanical computer designed to calculate polynomial functions using a method of finite differences."

a compact, hand-cranked mechanical calculator invented by Curt Herzstark in the 1940s, renowned for its innovative design and portability, capable of performing complex arithmetic calculations

"The Curta is a small mechanical calculator."

"The Curta is a small mechanical calculator that fits in the palm of the hand and was used by rally car navigators."

a mechanical analog device used for mathematical calculations, consisting of two logarithmic scales that slide past each other

"The slide rule was used before electronic calculators."

"The slide rule was used before electronic calculators and performs multiplication division and trigonometry by sliding scales."