The Power of Calculator Programs

My AP Physics C- Mechanics teacher told us to program our calculators with the Quadratic Formula, which he said would save us time during his exams if that formula was required. The quadratic formula is lengthy to solve, so this program makes the entire process a breeze. By only inputting the coefficients of ‘a’, ‘b’, and ‘c’, the program spits out the two ‘x’ values. With that being said, it can be taken to other levels which is what I decided to do with my calculator.

It makes it easier, as it saves time in the long run. By creating programs that instantly solve problems, I can save time or even figure out things I may not remember. One of which is the surface area equations, which is something people tend to not remember. I even programmed Kepler’s Third Law into my calculator. By inputting any combination of two the following, velocity, radius, or mass, it automatically solves for the other unknown variable. I actually made the Kepler’s Third Law program myself, because I was bored and was looking for something creative to do to pass the time. This was after my AP Physics C- Mechanics exam, and I was missing physics a little bit so I had fun with it.

Not only can you create all the programs by yourself, but there’s so many online programs, it's insane. One of which is a unit circle generator which could come in handy if you struggle with that, another one has solvers for dimensional analysis in chemistry and physics. This may seem like cheating, although not outright written in most places. Asking a teacher or professor if it’s allowed is probably the best option, as to not cheat unknowingly on an exam or quiz, but if they do say it;s allowed, you’ll have a massive advantage. Knowing how to store programs to automatically solve problems that could save you in the short run but it won’t make up for lacking skills in the long run.