Like most people, I’ve been using search engines to do math for a while now. It’s just ridiculously easy for basic math or unit and currency conversions, especially since I almost always use a web browser when I’m on my PC. However, I recently opened up the Calculator app on Windows 11 and discovered that it can do a lot more than just basic math. The app can perform unit conversions, currency conversions, and even calculate the difference between any two dates. Since Calculator is much lighter than the web browser (and has no distractions beyond typing 80085), you should try out all of these features and see if it’s a better option. You might be surprised by what you find.
Secrets of the Windows Calculator
First of all, if you need an advanced calculator, you can still use the Windows calculator app. Open the app and click on the button with the three lines in the upper left corner of the calculator window. This will reveal all the hidden features of the app. Here, select one of the following modes for more detailed calculations:
The programmer's calculator is made for computer scientists and programmers, while the graphing calculator can plot graphs and solve equations. For most people, the scientific calculator will be the most useful, as it can perform basic arithmetic along with more advanced functions such as trigonometry.
Click the three-line menu at the top left corner of the Windows 11 Calculator app window again, and you can see all the unit conversion functions. The following functions are listed under the Converter section:
