Calculator error in Android 6.0.1, how can I fix it?

[AC Question]

Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Hi

After updating to Android 6.0.1 a very simple calculation error has appeared in the built in calculator app.

Examples:

100+10%=100.1 (110)
100-10%=99.9 (90)
100*10%=10 (1000)
100/10%=1000 (10)

Android version: 6.0.1
Mobile: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
Model no: SM-G928F

Cheers
David

 

[anon(632115)]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

10% is .1 therfore 100+0.1=100.1 How is that wrong? You are not wrong either! If you try many calculators you will find differing results. 10% onits own doesnt mean anything so i guess some assume its x% of 1 whereas others assume its the other value in the sum.

 

[EldoradoSan]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

I've never seen anyone attempt math like this before. Assumption is the mother of all f*** ups. 100+10%? 10% of what, there is no argument there. The calculator would almost have to assume you mean 0.1. In which case every time the answer is correct as pointed out above.

If you really want to know the proper way to calculate this then you need to say 100*1.1, 100*.9, 100/0.1, and 100*0.1. Machines calculate quickly but are otherwise quite lacking. If you just assume it knows what you want a percentage OF then you will get the wrong answer 99.9999% of the time.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Torb and Reiner]

Yes, technically David was doing the calculation wrong if you take into account that 10% means 10/100 or 0.1. His calculator is correct mathematically. However most hand calculators are designed for everyday people to use not mathematicians. Who ever wants to calculate a percentage addition or subtraction like described above? No one I know. Most people want to calculate % markups and such. So calculator manufacturers got smart and figured out that most people are wanting to calculate the result of one number less (or plus) a certain percentage of that same number. So instead of having to do the first step of the calculation either in their head or on a calculator as a pre calculation they added the percentage (%) button to do just that. Every other android device I have had before my galaxy s7 has. Every office calculator does it. Why have android changed? That's the real question.

I certainly don't want to have to type in 100+(100*(10/100)) or even 100+10%*100 when I could just type in as David did and what most people do. Who gives a **** if it's not mathematically correct as typed into your calculator? Somehow I doubt anyone who cares so much about maths would be even trying to use the % button on a calculator.

EldoradoSan, you mustn't hang around many people who calculate percentages regularly. While you may not have 'seen anyone attempt math like this before' I don't know many who wouldn't. Most people worked out, or were taught, what the % button an a calculator actually does and it saved them heaps of time. Aparently Android doesn't like that convention any more and prefers instead to be inconvenient. Maybe they don't even know it's an issue.

Linds

 

[EldoradoSan]

Yes, technically David was doing the calculation wrong if you take into account that 10% means 10/100 or 0.1. His calculator is correct mathematically. However most hand calculators are designed for everyday people to use not mathematicians. Who ever wants to calculate a percentage addition or subtraction like described above? No one I know. Most people want to calculate % markups and such. So calculator manufacturers got smart and figured out that most people are wanting to calculate the result of one number less (or plus) a certain percentage of that same number. So instead of having to do the first step of the calculation either in their head or on a calculator as a pre calculation they added the percentage (%) button to do just that. Every other android device I have had before my galaxy s7 has. Every office calculator does it. Why have android changed? That's the real question.

I certainly don't want to have to type in 100+(100*(10/100)) or even 100+10%*100 when I could just type in as David did and what most people do. Who gives a **** if it's not mathematically correct as typed into your calculator? Somehow I doubt anyone who cares so much about maths would be even trying to use the % button on a calculator.

EldoradoSan, you mustn't hang around many people who calculate percentages regularly. While you may not have 'seen anyone attempt math like this before' I don't know many who wouldn't. Most people worked out, or were taught, what the % button an a calculator actually does and it saved them heaps of time. Aparently Android doesn't like that convention any more and prefers instead to be inconvenient. Maybe they don't even know it's an issue.

Linds

Well, Linds, you're certainly right on one point. My friends and I don't sit around calculating percentages and comparing the results from our differing calculators and methods.

Here's the problem, though. There is no standard, nor will there ever likely be, for the percentage button on calculators. But I guess I'm just an oddball. I don't use a calculator to figure percentages. I'm mathematically sound enough to know all I have to do is move the little decimal point to get 10%. Because lets be honest here, there are really only a couple of reasons to even figure a percentage: finding a tip amount or how much tax we are going to pay on an item. And I'd bet most people don't even do the latter.

So, if people want to rely on unsound methods when it comes to their money, good for them. I'm not one of those people. You can either do it the right way, or take your chances with your own way.

 

[Torb and Reiner]

Well, Linds, you're certainly right on one point. My friends and I don't sit around calculating percentages and comparing the results from our differing calculators and methods.

That would be some party.

Here's the problem, though. There is no standard, nor will there ever likely be, for the percentage button on calculators. But I guess I'm just an oddball. I don't use a calculator to figure percentages. I'm mathematically sound enough to know all I have to do is move the little decimal point to get 10%. Because lets be honest here, there are really only a couple of reasons to even figure a percentage: finding a tip amount or how much tax we are going to pay on an item. And I'd bet most people don't even do the latter.

That's where I think you're wrong. I challenge you to find a calculator (not a phone app) that wouldn't give 110 when you type in 100+10%.

I'm exactly the same when figuring out what 10% of something is. I don't have to use the % button. But it's different when adding or subtracting a percentage to a number. I'm sure most people would only do this once in a blue moon. But I do it daily. I'm in retail. I'm constantly figuring out markups and the like. I used to often use my phone to do such when I was away from my desk. But now it's just a pain in the ***. It's not so bad to do it in your head when it's adding 10% but I don't really want to do something like 56.98-23% in my head.

So, if people want to rely on unsound methods when it comes to their money, good for them. I'm not one of those people. You can either do it the right way, or take your chances with your own way.

It's not an unsound method when you know your calculator works that way. David was using the "right way" for a standard calculator. If I wanted to do everything long hand I'd use a pen and paper. After all, they were invented to make things easier.
One soon realises when a calculator works differently like David did. We're not blindly following some random method and taking whatever pops up on the screen. We just want it to work like normal. That's why I looked this up. Obviously it's an issue for people who use the function.

Again, why did android change from the norm?

Linds

 

[EldoradoSan]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Read this blog and you'll see that I'm not alone. Many calculators straight up don't even have a percent sign. Those are especially in science/math/engineering focuses like mine.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20080110-00/?p=23853

If people like it then so be it. Obviously, it doesn't work all the time, or at the very least is unreliably implemented, or this conversation would have never occurred. My method works every time and I'm satisfied to continue using it.

The fact that people don't even know the real method, if for no other reason than as a double check, says quite a bit about society. And that is unsurprising.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Torb and Reiner]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Read this blog and you'll see that I'm not alone. Many calculators straight up don't even have a percent sign. Those are especially in science/math/engineering focuses like mine.

True, I suppose that's because anyone using a sceintific calculator has no need or probably inclination to use that function. I wasn't very clear, I meant a run of the mill calculator you could buy at any supermarket or office supply shop. Just like the blog post was talking about. I suppose the only way the % function makes anything better is because it removes the 'in your head' part of the equation. So yes, it's unnecessary, but it is convenient.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20080110-00/?p=23853

If people like it then so be it. Obviously, it doesn't work all the time, or at the very least is unreliably implemented, or this conversation would have never occurred. My method works every time and I'm satisfied to continue using it.

Sure, and I'm not knocking your method in the slightest. I'm just saying it's what people are used to doing with an everyday calculator and it does work every time on an every day calculator. It suits people that don't think like a mathematician.

The fact that people don't even know the real method, if for no other reason than as a double check, says quite a bit about society. And that is unsurprising.

Posted via the Android Central App

Yes, it's sad and it doesn't stop at maths. I get frustrated when people don't know how to sew or use 'to' and 'too' correctly. However, I know that I used to work out all percentage calculations without using the % button. It's just convenience and laziness. But since I learned what the % key does I've been using it because it's easier. Our brains work like that, they are inherently lazy. Kind of like picking up a calculator in the first place. I don't need it for most calculations, I'm just lazy and slow at maths.

So since people who don't need/want a % button (like yourself) don't use it, why on earth should it have a function like what the latest version of android and windows calculators have and stuff around the people it was created for? Is it just to be an ***, or is there a real reason? If there is some reason then I'm ok with it. But like I asked in the beginning. Why would anyone want it to have the function /100? I know it's what % means in general terms but who cares?

Linds

 

[emad1995]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Mine is doing the proper calculation, not sure what's wrong with yours though

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Torb and Reiner]

Mine is doing the proper calculation, not sure what's wrong with yours though

Posted via the Android Central App

What phone/version of adndroid?

Mine used to do it. But new phone (and version) does not.

Linds

 

[emad1995]

What phone/version of adndroid?

Mine used to do it. But new phone (and version) does not.

Linds

Galaxy s6 on 5.1.1

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Torb and Reiner]

Galaxy s6 on 5.1.1

Posted via the Android Central App

Yeah, they must have changed the calculator for version 6. My s5 used to do the same as yours.

Linds

 

[Chestercym]

I do notice this issue and i thought it was my phone or the calculator is misbehaving, so i restart it and same results with the calculation format, so i look around and found this post, glad to know that it is not my firmware problem, but the calculator.
Previously i am on 5.1.1 lollipop i do a lot percentage and i am sure 100 + 10% it gives me a 110 answer. But now it is 100.1 Odd...

 

[NightOrchid]

Hey, this thread is scarey...the fact that you would even use a calculator in the first place to work out %s of multiples of 10... 10% of 100 is 10.. you just move the decimal point, its Imperial vs Metric.. depends on the system you use, so your all right, and wrong as well

I went to school in the 70s and 80s, calculators had just been invented.. we had to work it out in our heads and on paper

 

[EldoradoSan]

Hey, this thread is scarey...the fact that you would even use a calculator in the first place to work out %s of multiples of 10... 10% of 100 is 10.. you just move the decimal point, its Imperial vs Metric.. depends on the system you use, so your all right, and wrong as well

I went to school in the 70s and 80s, calculators had just been invented.. we had to work it out in our heads and on paper

 

[vaughn71]

Same problem for me. I want it for adding a tip to a bill, especially with friends and it comes time to split it up. Also for shopping. Quick check to see what the price would be minus a certain percentage.

 

[flintlock]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Try Office Calculator in the play store. It does % and sales tax conveniently. It also runs a tape.

 

[Joe C5]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Now you are not crazy. And the rest of the critics responding to you need to stay away from the keyboard. On your Galaxy phone go to the Galaxy app store and look for calculator you'll find that version ....48 is a new version that contains exactly the change that you're looking for. evidently an earlier version changed it back the wrong way which is technically the correct way but for the intuitive use of a calculator the new version will fix your problem. It is the galaxy app that changed, not the Android version.

 

[1android user]

I do a lot of percentages on my calculator and its not so simple as 10% of 100 when I am figuring $3479.75 plus 8% to have the calculator figure it for me is a plus, not that I can't do it myself but it surely save me time

 

[1android user]

Re: Calculator error in Android 6.0.1

Thank you, I never thought about that