Page 18 - Appplied Mathematics for the Petroleum and Other Industries, 5th Edition

39

2

The Calculator

OBJECTIVES

Upon completing chapter 2, the student will be able to—
1. Choose a calculator that matches calculation needs with calculator design.
2. Explain the differences and similarities of the three types of notation com-
monly used in calculators.
3. Describe the functions of commonly used keys on a calculator.
4. Solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems on a
calculator.
5. Solve square root and percentage problems using a calculator.
6. Perform chain calculations using the memory function of a calculator.

INTRODUCTION

Calculators represent a major technological advancement. However, calculators
are so common that few people realize just how technologically advanced they are.
The earliest calculators offered four basic functions: addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. Later, manufacturers added percentage and square-
root functions. Today’s sophisticated models not only include trigonometric,
logarithmic, and graphing functions, but also include preprogrammed scientific
operations, which rapidly calculate problems that would require many steps on
a four-function calculator.
A calculator eliminates the tedious aspects of carrying out calculations.
For example, you may recall that working the square-root problem in chapter
1 was a long, drawn-out process. But, to obtain the root on a calculator with a
square-root function, merely enter the number you wish to find the square root
of and press the square-root function key. The calculator displays the square root
in a fraction of the time required to work it out on paper.
Calculators are valuable tools for solving mathematical problems related
to many industrial operations. For example, in oilwell drilling operations, high-
pressure fluids from a formation—a kick—may enter the wellbore. Crew members
must quickly recognize and control a kick to prevent the well from blowing out.
Supervisory personnel on rigs can use calculators to quickly determine actions
needed to control the well. For example, they can calculate the new mud weight
Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin
required to contain the pressure, determine pump circulating pressures, and find
the number of strokes of the mud pump required to get the mud from the surface
to the bit, all of which are vital to controlling the well.
Pipeline construction workers may use calculators to figure pipe buoyancy,
while refinery employees may use them to determine heat transfer and material
balance. Electricians may use a calculator to determine total load amperes, voltage
drops in wiring, or power consumption. In virtually every industry, personnel use
calculators for estimating the cost of materials and labor for a job.
39