My calculator has a funny format

If you mean it is not showing everything after the decimal point, you can change that by pressing the [f] key followed by the number of decimal places to display. For example, to restrict it to 2 places, press [f][2]. If you want to see 4 places, press [f][4].

To show all possible decimal places, use the sequence [f][9].
From the manual (http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00363319.pdf):
"To display a different number of decimal places, press f followed by a digit key (0 through 9) specifying the number of decimal places. In the following examples, notice how the displayed form of the number inside the calculator - 14.87456320 - is rounded to the specified number of digits."


"Although nine decimal places were
specified after f, only eight are
displayed since the display can
show a total of only 10 digits. "
The standard display format, plus the specified number of decimal places, remain in effect until you change them; they are not reset each time the calculator is turned on. However, if Continuous Memory is reset, when the calculator is next turned on numbers will be displayed in the standard display format with two decimal places
shown.
If a calculated answer is either too small or too large to be displayed in the standard display format, the display format automatically switches to scientific notation. The display returns to the standard display format for all numbers that can be displayed in that format.
http://www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00363319.pdf

The 107,186.37 is what the future value would be if the interest per month is 0.58%, which is 6.96% per year. Try the following:
2nd [CLR TVM] 1 2 N 7 I/YR 1 0 0 0 0 0 PV CPT FV
As for rounding, you can change the calculator display to any number of digits (up to a limit, of course) by pressing 2nd [FORMAT] and then a number specifying the number of desired digits after the decimal point or 9 for floating decimal.

The manual for the Canon P1-DHV is online at http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/calculator/P1-DHV_G_USA_HWB.pdf>.
When the display shows "5/4", the calculator is doing 5/4 rounding which means: 5 or above round up, 4 or below round down. To control rounding press the "5/4" key.
When the display shows "E" the calculator could not complete a calculation. It can be because of dividing by 0, or because the total exceeded 1 trillion, or because the operator entered calculations faster than the calculator could complete them. Press the CI/C key to clear it.
I can't explain why you are not getting a total on the tape. Try the following example from the manual exactly as shown, and let me know if your tape shows the total.

1. Clear the calculator (press [CI/C])
2. Choose 5/4 rounding (press [5/4] until "5/4" displays)
3. Choose add mode (press [DEC] until "A" displays)
4. Choose cost-sell-margin mode (press [B-T] until "B" displays)
5. Turn printer on (press [PRINT] until "PRINT" displays)
6. To calculate: $12.55 + $15.75 - $5.30
7. Key in: 1255 [+] 1575 [-] 530 [=]
8. Tape shows: [0. C] ... [12.55 +] ... [15.75 -] ... [5.30 =] ... [23.00 *]

Press the APPS key, select the Finance app, and then TVM_Solver.

For N, enter 5 * 1 2 for 5 monthly payments.
For I%, enter 1 . 9 / 1 2 for the monthly interest rate.
For PV, enter 1 8 0 0 0 for the present value of the loan.
Make sure "END" is highlighted on the bottom line.
Move the cursor to the "PMT" line and press ALPHA ENTER to compute the monthly payment. You'll get a negative number since this represents something you pay out.

Begin mode is obtained by pressing [g][7] and it should then show BEGIN in the bottom line of the display. End mode is obtained by pressing [g][8]. End mode does not not show an indicator in the display because it is the default mode, so if BEGIN isn't showing, then the calulator is in End mode.

On the function switches, one is called the decimal point system (it has the numbers 0,2,4 & F for floating) The higher the number, the more digits are shown after the decimal point. You can download the manual by using the following webpage: http://consumer.usa.canon.com/cusa/office/products/hardware/calculators/printing_calculators/palm_printing/p23_dh_v?selectedName=Specifications#BrochuresAndManuals

Hello,
I am only looking for a plausible cause of the error, because I do not believe your calculator can make such a mistake. I think you accidentally activated the Exponential display format and did not pay attention to the small, raised -03 that came at the end of the number displayed. It is a common mistake for those not very familiar with Scientific or exponential notation.

Let us try to reset your calculator to the normal (floating point) format.
Press the [MODE] key a number of times until you reach a screen that has FIX, SCI, NORM and under each one a number (FIX 1, SCI 2), Norm 3). To have the number of decimal place you gave in your result (4 decimal digits), you press 1 to select Fix then 4.

Be aware that scientific calculators usually stop displaying results in floating point format ( 0.0000045 ) if the number is smaller then 0.001. So basically, 0.00099 will be displayed as 9.90-04, -04 being raised above the level, and in smaller size.

Hope it helps.

The [MODE] key can be used to select the modes described below.
Important! The following is a general explanation of Scientific Calculator modes. Note that your calculator may not include all of the modes described here.
1) Calculation Modes
Before performing a calculation, you first need to select the appropriate calculation mode.
COMP: Basic arithmetric calculations
(arithmetic operations, trigonometric functions, etc.)
COMPLEX: Complex number calculations
SD: Single-variable statistical calculations
(sample standard deviation, etc.)
LR or REG: Paired-variable statistical calculations
(linear regression statistical calculations, etc.)
BASE or BASE-n: Binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal number system calculations
MAT: Matrix calculations (determinants, etc.)
VCT: Vector calculations
EQU: nth degree equations, simultaneous equations
2) Display Settings
Use these settings to control how calculation results are displayed.
Note that changing the Fix and Sci settings does not affect internal calculation results.
Norm: Exponential display format and cancels the currently configured Fix and Sci settings.
Fix: Specifies a fixed number of digits to the right of the decimal place.
Sci: Specifies a fixed number of significant digits.
3) Angle Unit Setting
(90°=?/2 radians=100 grads)
Deg: Degrees
Rad: Radians
Gra: Grads
4) Engineering Mode
Use this mode when you want to input and perform calculations using engineering symbols.
Please rate this response . .

Check this HP FAQ:
Setting a Fixed Decimal Place You can download the manual and user guides for your calculator from here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=81575&lang=en&

For more information, Faqs & how-Tosgo the HP support homepage for your calculator:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=81575&

Introduction This document describes how to set the desired number of decimal places on the HP 12c calculator in standard format. It also covers how to enter a number in scientific notation. Instructions for standard format

1. Press and release .
2. Press the number key for the desired number of decimal places to be displayed to the right of the decimal point (0 through 9). The calculator displays a maximum of 10 digits.

The display will show the specified number of decimal places. The answer will be rounded to the number of digits selected. Example (standard format) If the number in the display is 14.87456320, the display will be changed as follows: Keystroke Display 14.8746 14.9 15 14.87456320 Instructions for scientific notation Use scientific notation for very large or very small numbers. Type in the mantissa. After pressing, the next numbers keyed in are exponents of 10. Press . If during an operation a result has more than 10 digits, the calculator automatically displays the number in scientific notation

Introduction This document describes how to set the desired number of decimal places on the HP 12c calculator in standard format. It also covers how to enter a number in scientific notation. Instructions for standard format

1. Press and release .
2. Press the number key for the desired number of decimal places to be displayed to the right of the decimal point (0 through 9). The calculator displays a maximum of 10 digits.

The display will show the specified number of decimal places. The answer will be rounded to the number of digits selected. Example (standard format) If the number in the display is 14.87456320, the display will be changed as follows: Keystroke Display 14.8746 14.9 15 14.87456320 Instructions for scientific notation Use scientific notation for very large or very small numbers. Type in the mantissa. After pressing, the next numbers keyed in are exponents of 10. Press . If during an operation a result has more than 10 digits, the calculator automatically displays the number in scientific notation

Go to the Microsoft Template Gallery:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/default.aspx

they have several different types there - payroll calculators, payroll and headcount planning, etc.