Sharp EL-531LH User manual

SHARP E L -531LH
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
The Learning Centre | Learning and Teaching Support Unit

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction 1
A word about starting out 2
1. Addition and subtraction 3
2. Multiplication and division 7
3. Brackets 9
4. Powers 10
5. Fractions 16
6. Using the x-1 key 18
7. Scientific notation 19
8. Factorial n!21
9. Using memory 22
10. Statistics 24
11. Trigonometric functions 31
12. Exponential and logarithmic functions 33
13. Degrees, minutes, seconds 35
Review calculator exercises 37

Calculator solutions 38
Your Notes 40

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 1
Introduction
This is one in a series of booklets prepared to assist students who are learning to use a
calculator. They have been prepared by staff in The Learning Centre from the Office of
Preparatory and ACademic Support (OPACS) at USQ. The series comprises:
Mastering the Calculator
•Using the Casio fx-100s (also suitable for Casio fx-570)
•Using the Casio fx-100AU
•Using the Casio fx-82LB
•Using the Casio fx-82MS
•Using the Casio fx-82TL
•Using the Sharp EL-531LH
•Using the Sharp EL-556L
•Using the Sharp EL-531RH
The instructions in this booklet only explain some of the keys available on your calculator
necessary for basic work in data manipulation. If you require more assistance please contact
The Learning Centre. If you would like information about other support services available
from The Learning Centre, please contact
The Learning Centre (TLC)
Learning and Teaching Support Unit (LTSU), S-Block
The University of Southern Queensland
Telephone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Fax: [phone]
Home page: http://www.usq.edu.au/ltsu

2Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
A word about starting out
•Make sure you are in the correct mode selection and that all previous data is cleared.
•For e.g. To perform arithmetic operations press
•To clear all values press
•To clear memory press
•If your calculator has FIX or SCI or ENG on the display press until the letters
disappear
•If your calculator has RAD or GRAD on the display press until the letter DEG
appears
•If all else fails press the RESET button on the back of your calculator
(e.g. - after replacing batteries
- to clear all memory content
- when an abnormal condition occurs and all keys are inoperative).

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 3
1. Addition and subtraction
1.1 To add numbers
Find the key
(it is shown on the photograph of the calculator here).
Example
To add 7 and 3, type
The display should read 10
Example
I want to find the total amount I earned in the past four weeks. If I earned $471, $575, $471
and $528, the key strokes would be
The display should read 2045.
addition key
cancel last number key
Backspace
key

4Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
1.2 Sometimes you make an error when typing in a number
If this happens use the key to cancel the number and then type in the correct number
and continue.
Example
If you want to enter 3 + 4 but accidentally type
press to cancel the 5.
Now type
Note that the key cancels just the last digit.
Example
If I want to add 471 and 575 but I typed
I can cancel 6 by typing and then typing
The display should read 1 046. Each time is used, the last digit is cancelled.
Try practising cancelling with the key until you are comfortable with its use.
1.3 The key is used when you want to delete a whole number
Example
If you typed:
471 + 566
but you wanted 471 + 576
press the key. Note the 566 disappears. Press the key again, the + sign becomes
static. Now type in 576 then .
The display should read 1 047.
Note: For the EL-531GH calculator, use the to cancel the last number and use the
to delete a whole number and then retype the new number.

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 5
1.4 When you want to edit, use the keys to move the cursor to the
left or right
Example
If you typed 471 + 568 +, but you wanted 576
Press the until the number 8 begins to flash [press to undo]
Press and “8” disappears. Now type in “7” and press until the + sign stops
flashing.
1.5 To subtract numbers
Find the key (it is shown on the photograph of the calculator following).
Example
To subtract 35 from 257, type
The display should read 222
plus minus key
subtraction key

6Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
Example
348 – 24 – 19
The keystrokes are
The display should read 305.
Sometimes you may have a sum like this:
-7 + 4
You can use the key.
The key strokes are
The display should read -3.
You could also use the keystrokes
In this case the calculator recognises the – as a negative (not recommended to do it this way).

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 7
2. Multiplication and division
2.1 To multiply numbers
Find the key (it is shown on the photograph of your calculator here).
Example
To multiply 7 and 3, type
The display should read 21
To find 753 ×492, type
The display should read 370 476
key for division
key for multiplication

8Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
2.2 To divide numbers
Find the key (it is shown on the photograph of the calculator)
Example
To divide 35 by 7, type
The display should read 5
To divide 7 905 by 85, type
The display should read 93
To divide 60 by 5 and then by 4 type
The display should read 3
2.3 Combining multiplication and division
Example
If the question is
then
it is really 27 ÷7 ÷4.
Try it.
The display should read 0.964285714
27
74
×
-
-------
----

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 9
3. Brackets
Find the set of bracket keys on your calculator.
The EL-531LH allows you to many sets of brackets.
Example
Do the calculation 471 – (93 + 11 + 2) on the calculator.
The keystrokes required are
The display should read 365
Sometimes in calculations you will see other grouping symbols, for example, { } (called
braces), [ ] (called square brackets).
Try these examples:
Exercise 1
(a) 25 + (7 + 2 – 4)
(b) 18 (3 + 7) [a multiplication sign is understood 18 ×(3 + 7)]
LH bracket key RH bracket key

10 Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
(c) 4 + 5 [2 (3 + 7)] [to use two sets of brackets just press the same button; this calculator can
take up to 6 sets of brackets]
(d)
Answers: 30; 180; 104; 1
4. Powers
4.1 Squaring and higher powers
62means 6 ×6. You can use the square key to do this calculation. (It is shown on the
photograph of your calculator here.)
Press
the display should read 36.
Or you can use the power key on your calculator.
Find the yxkey on your calculator.
5
32+()
-
------------
----
power key square key
square root key

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 11
Example
To square 6,
that is, find 62, type
The display should read 36
[The first number you put in is the 6. This is the yand the second number you put in (2) is x.
That is why it is called the yxkey.]
To find 273the required key strokes are
and the display should read 19683.
If you have learnt your multiplication tables you will already know the squares of the whole
numbers from 1 to 12 and thus be able to complete much of the following table.
__________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 2
Use your calculator to find the squares of the whole numbers from 13 to 25 and any other
squares you are unsure of.
__________________________________________________________________________
12= 1 112= 212=
22= 4 122= 222=
32= 9 132= 232= 529
42= 142= 242= 576
52= 152= 252= 625
62= 162=
72= 172=
82= 182=
92= 192=
102202

12 Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
Exercise 3
You can use this key for other powers as well. Try these examples
(a) 74
(b) 810
(c) (0.4)6(you do not have to type the brackets in)
(d) (–7)6 (you do not need to type the brackets in)
(e) 50.4
__________________________________________________________________________
Answers:
(a) 2401
(b) 1073741824
(c) 4.096 ×10–3 or 0.004096 (you move the decimal 3 places to the left)
(d) 117649
(e) 1.903653939
__________________________________________________________________________
4.2 Square root
Finding the square root of a number ‘undoes’ or ‘neutralises’ the squaring of the number and
vice versa. The symbol for square root is
(This is called the radical sign)
The square root of 36 is written as
Now because 62= 36, .
Find the square root key on your calculator and type
The display will read 6.
What do you think is? =
__________________________________________________________________________
You should have said 9 because 92= 81
(Check your calculator)
__________________________________________________________________________
3
6
36
6
=
8
1
8
1

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 13
Exercise 4
Try these by looking at the table of squares you completed on the previous page and then
check your answers on your calculator
__________________________________________________________________________
The answers are 4, 12, 10, 21, 7, 13, 11, 19.
Let’s now check that taking the square root neutralises squaring.
Try this on your calculator.
Find the square root of 3 squared that is,
The key strokes required are
The display should read 3
Because squaring and taking square roots are inverse operations, the order of the operatons
can be reversed and the number is unaffected.
So the square, of the square root of 3, should also equal 3
Try it on your calculator. The key strokes required are
__________________________________________________________________________
(a) = (a) =
(a) = (a) =
(a) = (a) =
(a) = (a) =
1
6
4
9
14
4
16
9
10
0
12
1
44
1
36
1
3
2

14 Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
Exercise 5
Complete the following without using the calculator
(a) =
(b) =
(c) =
(d) =10
(e) =625
(f) =144
(g) =, because 82=
(h) =, because = 121
(i) =, because =
Check your answers on the calculator.
__________________________________________________________________________
7
2
7
2
10
2
2
2
2
6
4
12
1
22
5

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 15
4.3 Other roots
You can also use the root key on the calculator. Find the on your calculator. To get to
this key you must press first.
Look at the examples below.
Examples
(a) 9½
and the display should read 3.
or
and the display should read 3.
root key

16 Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH
(b)
and the display should read 2.
(c) 16¼
and the display should read 2.
Note:
•Root key is a function above the power key, so you will need to activate it with the SHIFT
key
•See the key . The xstands for the root you want to take so it is typed first.
•From the examples above you may have seen that . is called a fractional
index.
5. Fractions
How do you add and ? Normally you would have to find a common denominator of
252.
So:
Or you can use your calculator to add fractions. Find the
key
81
3
---
x
8
1
3
---
8
3
=
1
3
---
1
12
-
-
----
4
63
-
-
----
1
1
2
-
-----
4
63
------
+
21
252
---------
16
252
---------
+
37
25
2
-----
----
==
ab
c
---

Mastering the Calculator using the Sharp EL-531LH 17
On the key the ‘a’ represents the whole part of a mixed
number and the ‘ ’ represents the fraction part of a mixed number.
When the number you are typing is a proper or improper fraction the ‘a’ is zero and there is no
need to type a value for it.
The key storkes required for the calculation are:
and the display will show 37 ⎡252 which is read as
fraction key
ab
c
---
b
c
---
1
1
2
-
-----
4
6
3
--
----
+
37
2
5
2
-
----
----