Does anyone make a calculator with which I can add or subtract minutes and seconds by entering them as decimals? For example: 5.50 + 2.15 = 8.05 (5 min 50 sec + 2 min 15 sec = 8 min 5 sec). I have a “scientific” calculator that takes several extra key strokes to do this, and it sure would help if I can input the figures decimally.
I notice that calculator has keys marked “hour,” “min,” and “sec,” and I would guess you’d have to hit these keys before or after the numbers; that’s similar to the one I already have. I want to be able to just hit the numbers separated by the period, like in base-10.
According to the online user’s manual, the calculator will accept input in either format. So, if you wanted to enter 4 1/2 hours, you type [4][.][5][HOURS].
Radio Shack used to have a calculator named ‘ChronoMath’ and I have one. I don’t know whether they still have one, or not. Mine no longer works since it isn’t Y2K compatible.
Bob
Here’s one that works that way (although the calculator was written for some other specific purpose) … to subtract, just add a minus sign before the number.
Wait… that calculator doesn’t make sense… since it doesn’t convert to the 5min 50 sec format at all. Sorry, ignore my previous post.
A scientific caculator should have a degrees, minutes, seconds button (probably marked DMS) which though its for the measurment of angles allows you to work in base-60 fractions.
I have Casio FX-451. I’ve used it for 20 years. It has two “base 60 conversion keys”: One key converts a real number to hours, minutes, seconds (h/m/s), while the other key converts h/m/s to a real number.
Yes, yes, these all have “conversion keys”. But I think what panache45 was getting at was the ability to, say, hit a single key for “Time Mode” and then you don’t worry about conversions, you just type in 12.30.25 and it knows you mean “12:30:25” and you can manipulate it the same as any “regular” number. Now that would be handy!
With degrees minutes seconds you should be able to set up your calculator to work exclusively in base-60.
And, of course, you can always use a spreadsheet or a programmable calculator.
Look for the Framemaster Timecode calculator.
We use it in the Broadcast and Film industry.
It covers Hours, Minutes, Seconds and Frames.
Drop Frame or Non-Drop Frame.
And I’d just program my calculator to do the conversions automatically.
But I’m a hacker. That’s how I approach a problem.