HP 17BIIPLUS User manual

HP 17bII+ Financial Calculator
Quick Start Guide
Edition 1
HP Part Number: F2234-90201

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Printing History
Edition 1, December 2008

Contents
Contents
Welcome to your HP 17bII+ Financial Calculator ....................... 1
The Keys................................................................................ 1
The Screen Display ................................................................. 2
Customizing the Calculator ...................................................... 3
Menus................................................................................... 8
Storage Registers and Continuous Memory ................................ 9
Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) Mode....................................... 10
Algebraic Mode................................................................... 13
The Equation Solver .............................................................. 14
Keys and Functions ............................................................... 14
Basic Financial Calculation Example ....................................... 21
Warranty and Contact Information ......................................... 24
Replacing the Batteries .......................................................... 24
HP Limited Hardware Warranty and Customer Care................. 24
Limited Hardware Warranty Period ........................................ 25
General Terms ..................................................................... 25
Exclusions............................................................................ 26
Customer Care..................................................................... 26
Product Regulatory & Environment Information.......................... 31

Contents

Getting Started 1
1GettingStarted
Welcome to your HP 17bII+ Financial Calculator
This booklet is intended to get you started quickly with the basic features of
your 17bII+ Financial Calculator. Use it for quick reference. For more detailed
information about the 17bII+ Financial Calculator, refer to the HP 17bII+
Financial Calculator User’s Guide. Pages of the user’s guide found on the HP
website, www.hp.com, are cited throughout this manual, and it is highly rec-
ommended you refer to the user’s guide to thoroughly familiarize yourself
with the many features of your calculator.
The Keys
Many keys on the HP17bII+ Financial Calculator perform more than one func-
tion. The primary function of a key is indicated by the characters printed in
white on the upper face of the key. If a key has an alternate function, it is indi-
cated by the characters printed in blue on the lower face of the key, or
printed below the key on the keyboard. See Figure 1.
Figure 1
• To specify the primary function on the upperface of the key, press the
key alone.
• To specify the shifted function printed in blue on the lower face of the
key, press the gkey, then press the function key.

2 Getting Started
• To specify a menu label, press the menu key, A, corresponding to
the desired menu item displayed along the bottom of the screen.
Pressing the gkey turns on the status indicator called an annunciator at
the top of the display. If you press gonce again, or press a function key,
the shift annunciator turns off. There are a total of four annunciators. When
displayed, each signifies the status of the calculator in certain operations.
When applicable, the descriptions below identify when an indicator appears
on screen.
In this manual, the highlighted portion of the key symbol or symbols repre-
sents the active function of the key. Unless otherwise indicated, press and
release the desired key, or key combination in order from left to right. You do
not need to press and hold the keys as with a computer or typewriter. Sec-
ondary, or shifted functions, are preceded by the shift key symbol, g.
When followed by an bold abbreviation, FIN, for example, the Akey indi-
cates a selection involving functions within a menu or sub menu. Functions
printed below the keys, ENTER and ON, are spelled out and described below
when applicable.
The Screen Display
The display screen has three lines. See Figure 2 below:
• The top line displays annunciators. Annunciators are symbols which
indicate the status of the calculator for certain operations. These
include: shift is active (page 19), sending information to the printer
(page 184), alarm sounding or appointment past due (page 147), and
low battery (page 224).

Getting Started 3
• The middle line is referred to as the calculator line. This line displays
numbers or letters you have keyed in and the results of calculations. In
RPN functions, this line most often displays the number stored in the X-
register. The cursor is visible on this line during number entry and
calculations.
• The bottom line displays menu labels (pages 24-28).
Figure 2
Customizing the Calculator
Table 1-1 lists some of the functions available for customizing the calculator.
The pages of the HP 17bII+ Financial Calculator User’s Guide are included
for reference. Refer to these pages of the user’s guide for more information.
Table 1-1
Functions Display/Description
Turn calculator
on/off
(page 17)
To turn calculator on, press R. Note ON is printed
below the key. The calculator turns off automatically 10
minutes after it was last used. To turn off, press gh.

4 Getting Started
Selecting the
Language
(page 18)
Information and menu labels may be displayed in six
languages. To change the language setting:
1. P r e s s gZ.
2. Press AINTL.
3. Press the menu key that corresponds to the desired
language.
4. The calculator automatically returns to the MAIN menu.
Operating
mode
(pages 222,
264)
1. To change the operating mode, press gZ.
2. Press the menu key that corresponds to the desired
mode, Reverse Polish Notation (RPN), or Algebraic
(ALG).
3. The calculator automatically returns to the MAIN menu.
The displayed message confirms your choice. The
operating mode remains set until you change it.
Table 1-1
Functions Display/Description

Getting Started 5
Number display
format
(page 34)
The default setting is two digits to the right of the decimal
point. To change the number of displayed decimal places:
1. P r e s s E.
2. Press AFIX followed by a number 0-11 to specify the
number of digits displayed to the right of the decimal
point.
3. Press H.
4. The calculator automatically returns to the MAIN menu.
Note: you may set the number display from within a menu
or during calculations. If you are working within the
Business menu (BUS) for example, and you press Eto
set the number display, after pressing Hin the steps
above, the calculator returns you to the BUS menu. If you
are performing a calculation, you are returned to current
work.
To see a number as precisely as possible:
1. P r e s s E
2. Press AALL to view all digits, 12 digits maximum.
3. The calculator returns you to current work
automatically.
Table 1-1
Functions Display/Description

6 Getting Started
Digit separator
(page 35)
In the number shown in the above image, the digit
separator is a comma (,). The decimal point is a point (.)
These are the default settings. To change the digit
separator from a comma to a period:
1. P r e s s E.
2. Specify the decimal point as either a point (.), or a
comma (,).
3. Pressing (,) specifies the decimal point as a comma (,)
and a point (.) as the digit separator (see below).
Note: You may set the digit separator from within a menu
or during calculations. If you are working within the
Business menu (BUS) for example, and you press Eto
set the digit separator, after your selection in the steps
above, the calculator returns you to the BUS menu. If you
are performing a calculation, you are returned to current
work.
Table 1-1
Functions Display/Description

Getting Started 7
Date and time
formats
(pages 141-149)
To view the time and date, press ATIME from the MAIN
menu. Press ASET to change date and time formats. To
change the formats:
1. With the time and date displayed (see above), press
AM/D to switch between month/day/year and
day.month.year formats.
2. Using the keypad, key in the date. For April 3, 2008 in
month/day/year, format, press 4.032008 followed by
ADATE.
3. In day.month.year format, key in 03.042008 followed
by ADATE.
4. To set the time, press A12/ 24 to switch between the
12 a n d 24 - h o u r c l o c k s.
5. Using the keypad, key in the time. For 9:08.30 pm in
the 12-hour clock, press 9.0830 followed by ATIME.
6. In the 24-hour clock, press 21.0 83 0 followed by A
TIME.
7. P r e s s AA/PM for either AM or PM.
8. Press gb to return to the MAIN menu.
9. Press Rto clear the calculator line.
Table 1-1
Functions Display/Description

8 Getting Started
Menus
Many of the calculator’s functions are located within menus. The calculator
usually displays a set of menu labels across the bottom of the screen. A menu
is a catalog which permits you to select an item from a list of options. The
MAIN menu is a list of primary choices. Menu items include: sub menus,
input forms for entering data, and specialized or advanced functions. To
Beeper mode
(alarm)
(page 36)
For use with
appointments
(pages 145-149)
A beeping alarm occurs when a wrong key is pressed,
when an error occurs, and during alarms for
appointments. To activate and deactivate the alarm:
1. P r e s s gZ.
2. Press ABEEP once for the alarm to sound when errors
occur and for appointments. The displayed message
confirms your choice.
3. Press ABEEP once again for the alarm for
appointments only. The displayed message confirms
your choice.
4. Press ABEEP once again to deactivate the alarm. The
displayed message confirms your choice.
5. The beeping mode remains set until you change it.
Press Gor gb to return to the MAIN menu.
Display contrast
(page 17)
To change the display contrast, press and hold R
followed by Uor Q. Each press of Uincreases
the contrast slightly; each press of Qdecreases the
contrast slightly.
Table 1-1
Functions Display/Description

Getting Started 9
open a menu or menu item, press the Akey that corresponds to the
desired label. The menu structure is hierarchical, so at any time, pressing G
returns you to the previously displayed menu. Some key points about menus:
•Press
gb at any time to return to the MAIN menu. The MAIN
menu includes options for: finance (FIN), business percentages (BUS),
statistics (SUM), time manager (TIME), Equation Solver (SOLVE), and
currency exchange (CURRX). Use Table 1-3 below as a quick
reference. For a complete list of menu labels and their corresponding
operations, as well as chapter references, see page 24.
• For help navigating through menus with menu maps, refer to pages 25
and 254-260.
• After pressing a menu key, the message, SELECT A MENU, appears
when a sub menu is available.
• When a menu has more than six labels, MORE appears as an option.
Select MORE to switch between sets of labels within the same menu
level.
• To store a value for a variable, key in the number and press the menu
key that corresponds to your choice. To calculate an unknown value for
a variable, enter all known values for related variables, then press the
menu key that corresponds to the unknown variable (pages 25-28).
• Pressing clear data,gc, clears all data in the currently
displayed menu and returns the value of any of the menu’s variables to
zero (page 28).
Storage Registers and Continuous Memory
Numbers (data) are stored in memories called “registers.” Special registers
are used for storing numbers during calculations. These are the “stack” regis-
ters, and the “Last X” register, which is used for storing the last number in the
display before operations are performed in RPN mode. Numbers are stored
automatically in these registers. There are also ten registers in which you can
manually store data, numbered 0-9. All these storage registers make up the
calculator’s Continuous Memory. All information in the Continuous Memory
is preserved even while the calculator is turned off. To monitor the amount of

10 Getting Started
available memory, press g and hold down the i key. A message dis-
plays the number of bytes of memory remaining and the percentage of total
memory available. If memory space is limited, the message INSUFFICIENT
MEMORY displays. Refer to pages 227-229 of the user’s guide for information
on managing calculator memory. To reset the Continuos Memory:
1. Press and hold three keys simultaneously: press and hold R, the
leftmost menu key, A, and the rightmost menu key, A.
2. After a moment, release all three keys. The calculator displays the
message, MEMORY LOST.
3. Press Rto return to the MAIN menu. The current time and date, the
selected operating mode, and the selected language are not changed
by resetting the Continuous Memory.
Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) Mode
The following information is a brief overview of how RPN works. For more
detailed information about RPN and how the stack works, refer to the HP
17bII+ Financial Calculator User’s Guide. In RPN mode, numbers are entered
first, separated by pressing Hor ENTER, followed by an operation
key. Pressing the Hor ENTER keys is optional after entering a number,
if the next key pressed is an operation. Each time you press an operation or
function key in RPN, the answer is calculated immediately and displayed. For
example, suppose you wanted to add two numbers in RPN, 1 and 2. Press
1H2U. The result, 3.00, is calculated and displayed imme-
diately.
There are four special registers used for storing numbers during calculations,
which are stacked on top of one another. Called the “stack,” these registers
are designated X,Y, Z, and T. X is on the bottom, and T is on the top. Most

Getting Started 11
often, the number in the display is the number in the X-register. Primarily, the
numbers in the X- and Y-registers are the numbers used in calculations. The Z
and T registers are used for the automatic retention of intermediate results
during chain calculations.
The Hand ENTER keys separate numbers in the vertical stack and posi-
tions them in the X- and Y-registers, and, in addition to displaying intermedi-
ate results, this vertical arrangement of the stack allows you to copy and
rearrange numbers without reentering them. For more complex problems
requiring two or more operations, you do not need to enter parentheses to set
operational priority. Key in numbers and operations inside the parentheses
first, followed by those outside of the parentheses. If a problem has more than
one set of parentheses, start by working with the operations and numbers in
the innermost parentheses and work out.
For example, in RPN mode calculate . See Table 1-2.
Although this is a simple example, you can use the principles introduced here
when working with more complex problems. See appendices D, E, and Fin
the HP 17bII+ Financial Calculator User’s Guide for more information on
RPN.
()()
6543 +×+

12 G e t t i n g S t a r t e d
Table 1-2
Keys Display/Description
gZARPN
Sets the operating mode to RPN. The message, RPN
MODE, confirms your choice. Press Gor R to
clear the calculator line. The operating mode
remains set until you change it.
3H4
U
Enters numbers and operation from the first set of
parentheses. The sum, 7, is displayed and stored in
the X-register.
5H6
U
Enters the numbers and operation from the second
set of parentheses. The sum, 11, is stored in the X-
register and displayed, and 7 moves up to the Y-
register.

Getting Started 13
Keys used to rearrange the RPN stack:
•Pressingthegfkeys exchanges the numbers in the
X-and Y-registers (page 269).
•Pressingthege keys performs a roll down of the
stack, where each number in the registers is copied into
the register below, and the number formerly in the X-
register is copied into the T-register (page 269).
•Pressinggk recalls the number displayed before
the previous operation back into the displayed X-register.
(page 273).
Algebraic Mode
To perform the same example in Table 1-2 in Algebraic mode, use parenthe-
ses to set the order of operation, and key in the expression as it is written,
from left to right. Press gZAALG to set the operating mode to Alge-
braic. The message, ALGEBRAIC MODE, confirms your choice. Press:
J3U4KPJ5U6K
Note the expression displays on screen in the order in which it is keyed. See
P
Finishes the operation and displays the results. Stores
77 in the X-register.
Table 1-2
Keys Display/Description

14 G e t t i n g S ta r t e d
Figure 3. Press Tto return a result of 77.00.
Figure 3
The Equation Solver
Use the Equation Solver found in the SOLVE menu to enter and store equa-
tions you use often. The Solver creates menus for them. The number and
length of equations is limited only by the amount of memory available. See
pages 153-183 for more information.
Keys and Functions
Table 1-3 lists some of the keys used for basic operations, mathematical cal-
culations, and financial problems. Use this table for quick reference. The
pages of the HP 17bII+ Financial Calculator User’s Guide are included for
reference. For a complete list of functions, refer to the user’s guide.
Table 1-3 Keys and Functions
Key(s) Description and Page Number in the User’s Guide
T
Enter
In RPN mode, enters a copy of number in displayed X-
register into Y-register. Used to separate numbers in RPN
(page 264).
H
Input
Used for changing or clearing a number in a cash flow list
(page 98). Used to create or copy items in a SUM list
( p a g es 123 -126 ) . In RPN mode, enters a copy of number in
displayed X-register into Y-register. Used to separate
numbers in RPN (page 264).

Getting Started 15
T
Equals
In Algebraic mode, completes a calculation (pages 21,
38).
UP
QN
Arithmetic operators (pages 21-22). Arithmetic operators in
the SOLVER (pages 164-165).
G
Exit
Exits the current menu and returns to the previously
displayed menu (page 25). Pressing Grepeatedly
returns you to the MAIN menu. Use gb as a
keyboard shortcut to the MAIN menu.
LBackspace Erases the character before the cursor (page 20). Use
backspace for editing number entry, not for clearing data.
R
Clear
Clears contents of calculator line (X-register in RPN) to
zero (page 19).
gc
Clear all
Clears all information in the currently displayed work
area, erases all numbers in a list, and returns all stored
values to zero in menus (pages 20, 28). Business menu
(page 50), TVM (page 64), Amortization (page 80),
Interest Conversion menus (page 86), Cash flow list (page
99), SUM list (page 123), Appointments (pages 146, 148-
149) , Time calculations (page 150), SOLVER (page 162-
164 ) .
Table 1-3 Keys and Functions
Key(s) Description and Page Number in the User’s Guide

16 G e t t i n g S t a r t e d
A
Menu keys
The top row of keys that correspond to the menu labels
along the bottom of the display (page 23).
gZ
Modes menu
Includes sub menus for: Algebraic operating mode (ALG),
Reverse Polish Notation operating mode (RPN), and
language options (INTL). Also includes the alarm (BEEP),
printer power source (PRNT), double-space printing (DBL),.
See Table 1-1 above, or page 260 for the menu map.
E
Display
Press Eto change the number of decimal places. Use
FIX to enter a number 0-11, and ALL for precision up to 12
digits. See Table 1-1 above, or page 35. Press gj as
a keyboard shortcut for the ALL setting.
I
Change sign
Changes sign of number or exponent displayed in the
calculator line or X-register (page 22).
gd
Scientific
notation
For very large or very small numbers. Key in the mantissa.
After pressing gd, the next numbers keyed in are
exponents of 10. Press Ifor a negative mantissa; for
negative exponents, press Qbefore keying in the
exponent (page 47). Press Hor T.
Table 1-3 Keys and Functions
Key(s) Description and Page Number in the User’s Guide