Internet Wonders Why Digital And Electronic Calculators Show Different Results In This Video

The advancement of technology can be seen in every field. Take for example calculators, in the very beginning people used to solve mathematical problems through a device known as the abacus. A few years down the line during the 1960s, there came the first solid-state electronic calculator. Speaking of present times, the masses have adapted to more modernised versions of the calculating device. Now they come built into our cell phones too. However, it seems like the results shown in electronic and digital calculators might be different. A recent video dropped on X (formerly Twitter) showing a similar output has now taken the internet by storm.

The video opens with a comparison between two calculators, one electronic and the other a digital iPhone, both placed side by side on a table. The user focuses initially on the digital calculator. They input an operation by adding 50 to 50 and then multiplying the sum by 2. The result displayed is 150. However, when the same operation is input into the electronic calculator, the result generated is unexpectedly 200, showing a discrepancy of 50 compared to the previous calculation. “Can you explain the different results?” read the note accompanying the X-post.

As soon as the post surfaced on the internet, social media users rushed to the comment section to share their opinions on the same. Shedding some light on the seemingly confusing results, one person opined, “Phone calculated 50+(50*2) while Casio calculated (50+50)*2 solving the one in the bracket first … hope that helps!”.

“Yes, IOS works in BODMAS Principle. Sequence of working: B bracket, O of, D divide, M multiple, A addition, and S subtraction,” suggested another.

An individual wrote, “The phone followed the order of operations while the calculator made its calculations one at a time.”

To conclude, it can be determined that while a normal calculator in a cellphone uses the algorithm of “write and operate”, the scientific or electronic calculator runs by the BODMAS algorithm, as suggested by a user in the comments.

Nevertheless, the amusing video has amassed over 71 million views on the micro-blogging platform. What are your thoughts on this?