Calculator

technology · math · invention

Pocket-sized math helper. Calculators are small electronic devices you can hold in your hand and use to solve math problems instantly. They work by processing numbers you punch in and showing you the answer on a screen.

Powered by electricity. Modern calculators run on batteries or solar power, which means they never run out of energy as long as it's light out or the batteries work. The first calculators needed to be plugged into walls!

From simple to super smart. Some calculators just do basic math like adding and subtracting, while others can handle really complicated stuff like trigonometry and calculus that scientists and engineers use. Your smartphone has a calculator app that can do almost anything.

Invention game changer. Before calculators were invented, people had to do all their math by hand or use slide rules, which took forever and was easy to mess up. Calculators made it possible for people to focus on bigger problems instead of spending hours on arithmetic.