Section 5 Programming Basics; Why Use Programs; Creating A Program - HP -10C Owner's Handbook Manual

Programming Basics

Why Use Programs?

A program is simply a sequence of keystrokes that is stored in the calculator.
Whenever you have to calculate with the same sequence of keystrokes several
times, you can save a great deal of time by incorporating these keystrokes into a
program. Instead of pressing all the keys each time, you press just one key to
start the program: the calculator does the rest automatically! No prior
programming experience is necessary to learn HP-10C programming.

Creating a Program

Creating a program consists simply of writing the program, then storing it:
1. Write down the sequence of keystrokes that you would use to calculate
the quantity or quantities desired.
2. Press ¥ to set the calculator to Program mode. When the calculator
is in Program mode, functions are not executed when the keys are
pressed. Instead, the keystrokes are stored inside the calculator. The
PRGM status indicator in the display is lit when the calculator is in
Program mode.
3. Press ´CLEARM to erase any previous programs that may be
stored inside the calculator. If you want to create a new program
without erasing a program already stored, skip this step (refer to section
8, Multiple Programs).
4. Key in the sequence of keystrokes that you wrote down in step 1. Skip
the beginning keystrokes that enter data which would differ each time
the program is used.
Example: Lerner Student has noticed that all the
physiology literature refers to temperature in
degrees Celsius. This is confusing to Lerner who
has grown up using degrees Fahrenheit in everyday
life. Write a program that converts degrees Celsius
to degrees Fahrenheit for Lerner.
The formula is: °F = (°C × 1.8) + 32
Section 5
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