People are just learning what the C, CE, and AC buttons on calculators mean as they share their shock after realising they all have different meanings and purposes which can make it easier to use
While calculators were invented to make it easier to solve math problems, no matter how easy or complicated they might be, some people are finding out that even the most common buttons on the popular devices can be confusing to know what they mean.
If you’ve ever used a calculator, you’ve most likely noticed that some buttons have letters on them. While the C, CE, and AC buttons are all used to clear the numbers you’ve added to your calculator, they all do it in different names, and the acronyms all have different meanings which will make it easier to use the calculator if you know what they stand for. But not everyone do know that.
Taking to TikTok, a mum named Patrice Iglesias shared how she was playing with her child’s toy cash register when she was suddenly hit with the realisation of what these buttons actually mean.
“POV: you’re 30 years old playing with your 3 year olds toy cash register and now just realising what ‘AC’ and ‘CE’ means on a calculator.”
Patrice isn’t the only person who was shocked to figure out what the acronyms mean, as others have taken to Reddit to explain the meanings.
Explaining why it belongs in the ‘You Should Know’ forum, they said: “These buttons actually do different things and it can help you use a calculator more effectively.”
They went on to explain: “When the calculator has C/AC buttons, the “C” means “clear entry” and “AC” means “all clear”. The “C” button will clear the number you have most recently input, and the “AC” button will make the calculator forget everything you have done so far.
“When the calculator has CE/C buttons, the CE button means ‘clear entry’ and the ‘C’ means “all clear”. The CE button will clear the current number you are inputting and the C button will make the calculator forget everything.”
Explaining how this can be used, they wrote: “For example, if you type 1, +, 3 and then hit the clear entry button, the calculator will clear the 3 but remember the 1 +. If you hit the all clear button, it will forget everything and you can start over from scratch.”
“Occasionally, you can press the clear entry button twice which does the same thing as clear all,” they added.
Despite the useful post, people weren’t convinced they’d start using the buttons after learning what they mean, as they were too sceptical it’d actually work.
“Look that’s great and all but if I make I mistake, I know I’m smashing the “all clear” button 5 times and starting over,” one person commented on the Reddit post.
“It’s more that I don’t trust myself – if I know I’ve made an error, try to correct it and keep going, I’ll see an answer and won’t be smart enough to work out whether it’s plausible enough. Starting over is fool proof,” a second person wrote. “And I don’t think I’ve ever needed to be efficient using a calculator, like when am I ever rushing while doing maths?”
However, others were thankful for the explanation, as one person shared: “I cannot overstate the number of maddeningly frustrating episodes in my life that are now fully explained.”
Another user wrote: “I wonder every time a pick up a calculator, make a mental note to look it up, then immediately forget. For like 60 years. Thanks.”
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