How to Use an Android Calculator: Features, Modes & Tips

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Easily do basic calculations, convert units, and more
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Having a calculator on your phone is helpful in a pinch for spur-of-the-moment calculations, like calculating tips and totals. Fortunately, every Android phone or tablet has a built-in calculator, such as Samsung Calculator on Samsung Galaxy models, and Google Calculator on most other Androids. This article will guide you to use the stock Android calculators on your phone or tablet with ease.

Using the Calculator on an Android Phone

Androids come with a calculator app, usually Google Calculator or Samsung Calculator. You will find the Calculator app in the app drawer, or by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping the calculator. If you don't have a calculator app, you can download both Google and Samsung Calculator from the Play Store.

Section 1 of 3:

Using the Samsung Calculator

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  1. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open the App Drawer. In the list of apps, tap the one called Calculator . You can also search the App Drawer for calculator . [1]
    • If you want to add the calculator icon to your Home screen, tap and drag it.
    • If your phone has Edge Panels, you can also swipe from the side marker to open the Edge Panel and tap the calculator app icon there.
  2. 2
    Type in whatever calculation you need. Press the on-screen keys to enter your equation. If you make a mistake, press the "Erase" button, which looks like a backwards tab with an "x" in it. Here are the most common buttons:
    • ÷ = Divide
    • × = Multiply
    • − = Minus; Subtract
    • + = Plus; Add
    • = = Equals. Press this at the end of your calculation to see the final result.
    • Press the Clock icon to see your history of calculations.
    • Press the Ruler icon to open the Unit Converter. You can easily convert things like temperature, volume, mass, time, and tips.
    • C = Press this to clear what is currently in your calculation.
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  3. 3
    Tap the "Scientific mode" button for more operations. The "Scientific Mode" icon looks like a box with numeric symbols in it. You'll find it next to the clock and ruler icon.
    • Alternatively, turn your smartphone or tablet to the side to open the Scientific Mode ( if your rotation lock isn't on ).
    • When Scientific Mode is enabled, the calculator rotates to the side so it can show more buttons.
    • With the Scientific calculator, you can factor in exponents, Rad, sin, cos, tan, and more. For more functions, tap the button in the top left corner of the keypad (it looks like 2 arrows pointing opposite ways). Tap it again to return to the previous page of mathematical functions. [2]
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Section 2 of 3:

Using the Google Calculator

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  1. 1
    Open the Google Calculator on your Android. On Pixel phones and other Android models that Samsung doesn't make, swipe down from the top of your screen, then tap the Calculator icon.
    • If you don't see the calculator app in your Quick Settings panel, you will need to add it first. Here's how:
      • Swipe down from the top of your screen twice.
      • Tap the pencil icon in the top right corner.
      • Tap Edit in the panel of icons.
      • Tap and drag "Calculator" under "Available buttons" to the top panel.
      • Tap Done twice. Now you'll see the icon in your Quick Settings panel and can tap it to open the Calculator app quickly.
    • You can also swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open the App drawer, then tap and drag the Calculator icon to add it to your Home screen.
  2. 2
    Type in whatever calculation you need. Press the on-screen keys to enter your equation. If you make a mistake, press the "Erase" button, which looks like a backwards tab with an "x" in it next to the = sign. Here are the most common buttons you'll find:
    • ÷ = Divide
    • × = Multiply
    • − = Minus; Subtract
    • + = Plus; Add
    • = = Equals. Press this at the end of your calculation to see the final result.
    • Press â‹® > History to see all your calculations. You can also pull down from the tab to see your previous calculations.
    • AC = Press this to clear what is currently in your calculation.
      • You also have access to some more advanced tools if you hold the smartphone or tablet in landscape mode:
        • √ = Square root
        • Π = Pi
        • ^ = Exponential power
        • ! = Factorial
      • Press the down arrow to see more advanced math functions.
  3. 3
    Rotate your phone or tablet for more advanced calculations. As long as the rotation lock is off , you can tilt your Android so it's in landscape orientation to see more mathematical functions like RAD, INV, sin, and more.
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Section 3 of 3:

Tips to Write Mathematical Formulas

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  1. 1
    Use the division symbol to write fractions. In essence, fractions are division functions. There isn't a fraction button, but you can write (2÷4) + (2÷4) for the same result as 2/4 + 2/4 .
  2. 2
    Swipe left to see big numbers (Google only). If you're using the Google calculator and have a very large number, you can pull the result to the left to see more of that number.
  3. 3
    Quickly share a calculation (Samsung only). Tap and hold a calculation or the sum, then tap Share . The different apps that you can share to will appear at the bottom of the screen.
  4. 4
    Tap a calculation in history to re-run it. This is a great speedy trick if you don't want to re-enter a long equation. Instead, you can access the history and tap it to run it again!
  5. 5
    Use Samsung's built-in converter tool (Samsung only). Instead of closing the calculator app to find your conversion online, you can tap the ruler icon to quickly convert almost any measurement (like area, feet, temperature, and more).
  6. 6
    Use App Pair to use Samsung Calculator and Google Sheets together. This requires that you have Samsung Calculator and Google Sheets installed on your Android device. Here's what to do:
    • Open Google Sheets and go to your Recents screen.
    • Tap the app icon and drag it to the top or bottom of your screen to open it in Split View.
    • Open the Calculator app in the other window.
    • Tap the handle that resizes the split view windows (it has 3 dots) and tap the star icon.
    • Tap Add app pair to . If you use Edge Panels, you can add them there to avoid cluttering your Home screen.
      • Now you can tap the newly created pair to open both of these apps at the same time!
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  • Question
    How do you write fractions?
    Wing Hong Chan
    Community Answer
    Many calculator apps can't do this. I recommend that you convert to decimals.
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  • Question
    What is the sequence to use Tan?
    Sophie Walford
    Community Answer
    If your Android system is up to date, you simply go onto the calculator application, then tap the rotate symbol, and Tan is right there on the keypad.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 24 Helpful 27
  • Question
    How can I get a calculator on my phone?
    I_l1ke_gam3s
    Community Answer
    Install it from your respective downloading app. It could be App Store or Play Store. It depends on if you're using Android or iOS.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002547/
      2. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002547/

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