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GATE Virtual Calculator Complete Tutorial

From this year GATE committee has prohibited the use of conventional calculator and
introduce virtual calculator which will be available during gate exam. While checking out
this virtual calculator i found its functioning a bit complex and unusual. Several function
such as combination, permutation, matrix etc are missing in this calculator.
Mark my word guys it is near to impossible to operate this calculator correctly on the
first attempt. So it is mandatory for all of you guys appearing for GATE exam to practice
this calculator before exam.
To simplify your work i am going to elaborate function and steps of each button
available in it. Please open virtual calculator in new tab by clicking here
Structure of the Tutorial: First we will deal with basic arithmetic operation such
as plus, minus, division, multiplication, square root, reciprocal then we will move to
trigonometric, logarithm, exponential and factorial.

Basic Arithmetic Operation:

There is a special way of writing number with negative sign. Suppose we want to
write -25
1. Write number 25
2. Click on [ +/- ] button.

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Plus, Minus, Multiplication and Division :

Now let solve some example to understand some basic feature
First Example:

1. Write number 25
2. Click on [+/-] button.
3. Click on [ * ] button > open bracket [ ( ] > Type 50 > click on [ * ] > Type
5 > close bracket [ ) ] > Click on [ / ] > Type 4 > Click on [ = ].
Second Example:

Answer is 90
Button Sequence:
10
[]

[+] [(]
0.4

[)]

50

[]

10

[*]

[(]

2.6

[]

0.6

[)]

[/]

[(]

1.4

[=]

Power:
First we will discuss about ( power of 10 ) button then we will move toward power of
other number.
Power of 10: Two button has given for Power of 10 function first is [ Exp ] and second
is [ 10x ]. Let solve an example to see what is the different between them and how does
they work.

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while using [Exp] button we first have to type 4.2 than we will use [Exp] button but in
case on [ 10x ] first we have to find power of 10 then we mention 4.2
Button Sequence:
4.2
2

[ Exp ]
[ 10x ]

[*]

[=]
4.2

[=]

Power in General
Three button has given for this purpose [ x2 ], [ x3 ] and [ xy ]. First and second is for
square and cube respectively where as 3rd button is for other numbers.
Square: First you have to mention x then click on [ x2 ] to get square of x. For example
we want to calculate 1442 so type 144 then click on [ x2 ] for result 20736.
Cube: First you have to mention number then click on [ x3 ] to get cube of number. For
example we want to calculate 1253 so first type number 125 then click on [ x3 ] for result
1953125.
Other: Now we want to calculate 314. Procedure will be same as above but now we
have to mention power term. So first type 31 then click on [ xy ] now mention power
term which is 4 in this case then click on [ = ] for result 923521.

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Problems:

Solution:
[(]

[(]

[)]

[/]

5
10

[*]

[ xy ]

21
y

[x ]

[)]

[+]

[(]

[*]

4.8

[ xy ]

[)]

[ = ].

Screenshot of virtual calculator you should get

Root :
Three buttons are provided for dealing with roots [ ], [ 3 ] and [ yx ] in GATE Virtual
Calculator. Let solve some simple problem to learn about these button.
Square Root: Mention the number of which square root has to be find then click on
[ ]. For Example we want to find 441 so first we have to type 441 then click on
[ ] button for result 21.
Cube Root: Mention the number of which cube root has to be find then click on
[ 3 ]. For example we want to find 310648 so first we have to type 10648 then click
on [ 3 ] button for result 22.
Other [ yx ]: First type value of x then click on [ yx ] then mention value of y. For
example we want to find53125 so first type 3125 then click on [ yx ] and then mention
5 and click [ = ] for result 8.

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Problem:

Solution:
44

[]

[+]

50

[ 3 ]

[+]

75

[ yx ]

[=]

It should look like this

Reciprocal:
For finding reciprocal of any number just type the number and click on [ 1/x ] button.
Problem

Solution:
15

[ 1/x ]

[+]

21

[ 1/x ]

[=]

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Trigonometric Function
Calculator should be in degree mode and value should always be given first and then
function for example in order to find sin30 one must type 30 first then click on [ sin
] button.
Gate Virtual Calculator consist of 6 buttons to deal with trigonometric problem which
are [ sin ] [ cos ] [ tan ] [sin-1 ] [cos-1 ] [tan-1 ] and 6 hyperbolic function [ sinh ] [
cosh ] [ tanh ] [sinh-1 ] [cosh-1 ] [tanh-1 ]. Here we will look into functioning of 6
trigonometric function which will be same for hyperbolic function too.
For example:
Sin 30 + cos 30 = 1.366
30

[ sin ]

[+]

30

[ cos ]

[=]

sin230 + cos230 = 1
30

[ sin ]

[ x2 ]

[+]

30

[ cos ]

[ x2 ]

[=]

cot55 + cosec 75 = 1.735

As we know that reciprocal of sin is cosec, reciprocal of tan is cot and reciprocal of cos
is sec so we will solve (1/tan55) + (1/sin75)
55

[ tan ]

[ 1/x ]

[+]

75

[ sin ]

[ 1/x ]

[=]

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Logarithmic Function
Four buttons is provided in GATE Virtual Calculator for dealing with Logarithmic
Function [ ln ], [ log2 x ], [ log x ] and [ logy x ]
[ ln ] This button mean Logarithms with base e. In order to determine ln5 first type the
value which is in this case is 5 then click on [ ln ] button for result 1.609.
[ log2 x ] : Logarithms with base 2
[ log x ] : Logarithms with base 10
[ logy x ] : Logarithms with user input base.
Problem: In mechanical, true strain of forging is given by

Suppose value of ho is 50 and hf is 20 then value of true strain is

Solution
50

[/]

20

Ans is 0.916

[=]

[ ln ]

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Factorial Function
we have [ n! ] button to deal with factorial function
5!

[ n! ]

120

8!

[ n! ]

40320

IMPORTANT ADVICE:
1. Always click on [ C ] button before starting new calculation
2. BODMAS rule should be followed
B Bracket
O Order (Power and roots)
D Division
M Multiplication
A Addition
S Subtraction
3. Here [ mod ] button is simply a showpiece never press mod button. It is just
indicating whether calculator is in deg mode or in radian mode. For changing
degree mode to radian mode you have to press radio button.

4. While solving question try to do your calculation with GATE virtual calculator in
order to get good command on it.
In coming days I am going to cover calculation of important formulas using GATE virtual
Calculator for different subjects. Subscribe to get updates in your mail box.
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