# Can you explain this weird calculator behavior? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967 "2018-06-29T01:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/1 "2018-06-29T01:18:51Z")
When I take 9675 and multiply by 2.5% I get 241.875 as the answer. This is the case with several calculators. Why? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/2 "2018-06-29T01:22:40Z")
Not sure what you’re asking - 241.875/9675 = .025 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/3 "2018-06-29T01:23:54Z")
Because it’s the correct answer. You’re multiplying 9675 by .025. What’s the actual situation you’re trying to figure out? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/4 "2018-06-29T01:24:16Z")
Because that’s the correct answer. 241.875 _is_ 2.5% of 9675. Edit: Where did all these ninjas come from? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/5 "2018-06-29T01:32:13Z")
What (even an approximation) are you looking for? 9675 is 2.5% of 241.875. If you were expecting a different answer you’re probably using the wrong formula. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/6 "2018-06-29T01:34:56Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > What (even an approximation) are you looking for? 9675 is 2.5% of 241.875. It certainly is not! ---
**Author:** ![CharmaChameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CharmaChameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CharmaChameleon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/7 "2018-06-29T01:49:11Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > It certainly is not! Yeah. 9675 is 40 times 241.875. (40=1/0.025) ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/8 "2018-06-29T01:52:49Z")
Used Excel, and got 2.5% X 9675=241.875. Then, using the old fashioned method of a lead pencil on paper, I got the same thing. I’m about convinced that 2.5% X 9675 does in fact = 241.875. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/9 "2018-06-29T01:55:41Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > Used Excel, and got 2.5% X 9675=241.875. > > Then, using the old fashioned method of a lead pencil on paper, I got the same thing. I’m about convinced that 2.5% X 9675 does in fact = 241.875. ETA: he fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/10 "2018-06-29T03:41:57Z")
Ok, this is embarrassing. I was trying to calculate a 2.5% and 2% commission split of a total 4.5% commission. I calculated 4.5% of $215,000 and got $9,675, and then thought multiplying $9,675 by 2.5% would get me the total 2.5% commission. It made sense in my head. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-weird-calculator-behavior/816967/11 "2018-06-29T07:55:53Z")
I’m with the OP on this. Yeah, that’s the correct answer, but it’s still weird. 9675 is a weird number, no doubt about that.