HOW TO USE YOUR HP 12 C CALCULATOR
This document is designed to provide you with (1) the basics of how your HP 12C financial calculator operates, and (2) the typical keystrokes that will be required on the CFA examination. In this tutorial, the following keystroke and data entry conventions will be used. < • > and [•] Denote keystrokes {•} Denotes data input A. Setting Up Your HP 12C Important note: The keys of the HP 12C calculator have been assigned multiple functions. Keys are assigned white, orange and blue color codes. To enable the white coded function, just press the desired key. For the orange coded function, press the key at the bottom of the calculator followed by the desired key. For the blue coded function, press the key at the bottom of the calculator followed by the desired key. In this user guide, all keys are referred to by their white coded function, as they are easier to read and easier to identify. The following is a list of the basic preliminary set up features of your HP 12C. You should understand these keystrokes before you begin work on statistical or Time Value of Money (TVM) functions. Please note that your calculator’s sign convention requires that one of the TVM inputs ([PV], [FV], or [PMT]) be a negative number. Intuitively, this negative value represents the cash outflow that will occur in a TVM problem. 1. To set the number of decimal places that show in your calculator display screen: < f > → {Desired # of decimal places} For the exam, I would make sure that the number of decimal places is set to 5. 2. To switch between annuity-due [BEGIN] and ordinary annuity modes: To switch to the begin mode, enter → [7] (The word BEGIN will be displayed at the bottom of the display screen.) To switch back to the ordinary annuity mode, enter → [8] (The word BEGIN will disappear from the display screen.)

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HOW TO USE YOUR HP 12 C