What is Inside of Calculators & How

Do They Work?
 

Posted byAlyssa Mertes

April 6th, 202218 Minute Read
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Learn More About Calculators
Learn More About Calculators
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Different Types of Calculators?What is Inside of Calculators & How Do
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Do you miss taking math classes in school? Well, then you’re in

luck because here’s an ode to the humble calculator! From
scientific to pocket calculators, these tiny devices have been
making our lives easier since we first learned how to add,
subtract, multiply, and divide.
As cool as it would be, tiny elves aren’t inside working out math
problems. So how exactly do calculators work? Let’s pull these
helpful tools apart, and see what makes them function!

What is a Calculator?
A calculator is a small electronic device that makes
mathematical calculations. It’s used by students, financial
advisors, accountants, and many others when mental math
won’t produce a fast, accurate answer.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/Pascaline

Who Invented the Calculator?

https://www.britannica.com/technology/Pascaline

The first calculator was invented around 1642 by Blaise Pascal,

a French mathematician and philosopher. This groundbreaking
device was called the “Pascaline” and came out right in time for
the Industrial Revolution when huge changes were occurring in
both business and technology.
 Source: nytimes.com
Source: nytimes.com

While the Pascaline was technically the first adding machine to

ever exist, the handheld electronic calculator took things to the
next level! The most famous is the iconic Texas Instruments (TI)
calculator, invented by Jerry Merryman and Jack Kilby in 1967.
High school algebra wouldn’t be the same without these
groundbreaking gentlemen!

Did you know?

A man named Wilhelm Schikard invented a calculator that came
out before the Pascaline. He often doesn’t get credit for
inventing calculators, however, because his device had tooth
cogs that would often fail. It also couldn’t do subtraction or
division!

What Are Calculators Made Of?

Most calculators are made from a durable type of plastic known
as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). You’ll also find more
high-end calculators made from stainless steel, aluminum, or
brass.
Check out this graphic to see all the different materials used to
make calculators!
  ABS Plastic or Metal: Used to make the case
 Soft Plastic or Rubber: Used to make the buttons
 Liquid Crystals: Used to make the screen
 Lithium: Used to make the button cell battery inside of the
calculator

Your calculator can last for years thanks to all of these

materials. It wouldn’t work quite right if anything was missing
from the final design.