Hewlett Packard HP 12C Instructions

By Meg North

Updated September 26, 2017

The HP 12C adds financial functions to the basic arithmetic functions of a calculator.
i calculator image by Stanisa Martinovic from Fotolia.com

The Hewlett Packard (HP) 12C is a financial calculator with financial, percentage, calendar, compound interest and mathematical functions. Any numbers you wish to save can be stored in part of the calculator's memory called registers. These numbers may be recalled at any time to proceed with the calculations. The calculator may require up to 30 seconds to complete a calculation. Its battery power can be determined by the star graphic on the screen.

Perform basic arithmetic calculations (add, subtract, multiply and divide). Press the first number, press the "Enter" key, press the second number and then press the appropriate symbol.

Calculate the percentage of a number. Press the number, press "Enter," press the percentage and then press the "%" key.

Enter in the date. Press the "g" key and then the "M.DY" key. Press the digits for the month and then press the decimal point key. Press the digits for the day and then the four digits for the year.

Make a simple interest calculation. Press the number of days and then press the "n" key. Press the interest rate and then press the "i" key. Press the principal amount and then press "CHS" and "PV" keys. Press the "f" "INT" keys to calculate a 360-day basis or the "R" "XY" keys for a 365-day basis.

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