What your result means
The answer updates as you type, and the sum is evaluated in standard mathematical order rather than left to right. That distinction matters: 2 + 3 × 4 is 14, not 20, because multiplication binds tighter than addition. Brackets override that order wherever you need them to.
Why this one is different
The expression is echoed back exactly as it was read, so a mistyped bracket shows itself before the answer does, and the order the operations were applied in is spelled out underneath. The same answer also appears rounded to two decimals and to a whole number, which saves the second sum people usually reach for.
The rule that catches almost everyone out
Brackets first, then powers, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right. Most disagreements about a "wrong" answer online come down to this rule rather than any arithmetic error.
When in doubt, add brackets. They cost nothing, they make your intention explicit, and they remove the argument entirely.
How it works
Your input is parsed into an expression tree that respects operator precedence, then evaluated exactly once per keystroke. A percent sign divides the preceding value by one hundred, so writing 15% gives 0.15 and 200 × 15% gives 30.
How to use this calculator
- Type your sum using + − × ÷, brackets and decimals.
- Use % to divide a number by one hundred.
- Use ^ for powers, so 2^10 is 1,024.
- Pick the number of decimal places you want in the answer.
Formula
Operations at the same level are evaluated left to right. This is the standard order of operations, sometimes taught as BODMAS or PEMDAS.
Example calculation
Working through (240 + 60) × 1.2 − 15:
Then multiply: 300 × 1.2 = 360
Then subtract: 360 − 15 = 345
Chain entry versus expression entry
Simple calculators evaluate as you press: type 2 + 3 × 4 and the display shows 5 after the ×, then 20. Expression-based calculators wait for the whole input and apply standard precedence, giving 14. Neither is wrong, but they answer differently, and mixing them up is a common source of a mistyped total. If you need precedence, use brackets explicitly — they behave identically in both modes and remove the ambiguity entirely.
Percent, memory and floating point
The percent key is context-sensitive on most calculators: 200 + 10% usually means 200 + 20, while 200 × 10% means 20. Memory keys (M+, M−, MR) accumulate a running side total, which is quicker than writing intermediate results down. And every digital calculator stores numbers in binary floating point, so a few operations on decimals can leave a trailing 0.0000000001 — not an error in the arithmetic but a limit of the representation. Round the final answer to the precision the task actually needs rather than trusting the last displayed digit.
Frequently asked questions
Why does 2 + 3 × 4 give 14?＋
Multiplication is evaluated before addition, so it becomes 2 + 12 = 14. If you meant the addition first, write (2 + 3) × 4, which gives 20.
How does the percent sign work here?＋
It divides the number in front of it by one hundred. So 15% becomes 0.15, and 200 × 15% gives 30. To add 15% to a value, write 200 × 1.15 or 200 + 200 × 15%.
Can I use scientific functions?＋
Not here — this tool is deliberately kept to everyday arithmetic. For trigonometry, logarithms and roots, use the scientific calculator instead.
What is BODMAS and does the calculator follow it?＋
Brackets, orders, division and multiplication, then addition and subtraction. The calculator applies it, which is why 2 plus 3 times 4 gives 14 rather than 20.
Why do division results sometimes show a long decimal?＋
Because one third and similar fractions have no exact decimal form. The display rounds at the last digit, and the underlying value keeps more precision than is shown.
Can I use the keyboard?＋
Yes. Number keys, operators, Enter to equal and Escape or Delete to clear all work, which is much faster than clicking for long sums.
What is the difference between C and CE?＋
CE clears the current entry so you can retype the last number, while C clears the whole calculation. Using CE saves retyping a long sum after one mistyped figure.
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Assumptions & limitations
Every figure here comes from a simplified model. Keep these limits in mind when reading your result:
- Handles + − × ÷ ^ % and brackets only; no trigonometry, logarithms or memory functions.
- Uses standard double-precision arithmetic, so results beyond about fifteen significant digits may round.
- Very large powers can overflow to infinity.