Scientific Calculator

A feature-rich scientific calculator application with a modern GUI built in Python using Tkinter. Supports basic arithmetic operations, trigonometric functions, logarithms, and advanced mathematical operations.

Created by: Zain Aftab

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Features

Basic Operations

• Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
• Percentage calculations
• Clear (C) and Clear Entry (CE) functions
• Backspace for removing last digit

Scientific Functions

• Trigonometry: sin, cos, tan, asin, acos, atan
• Logarithms: log₂, log₁₀, natural logarithm (ln)
• Powers & Roots: x², x³, x^n (custom power), √ (square root)
• Advanced: Reciprocal (1/x), Factorial (!)
• Constants: π (pi) and e

Advanced Features

• Support for parentheses in expressions
• Input validation for all operations
• Error handling for edge cases (division by zero, invalid domain values)
• Full error messages for better user experience
• Prevention of consecutive operators
• Decimal point validation

User Interface

• Dark theme with color-coded buttons
• Large, readable display with green text on dark background
• Responsive grid layout
• Button categories:
  • Red buttons: Clear and Equals operations
  • Teal buttons: Arithmetic operators
  • Gray buttons: Scientific functions
  • White buttons: Numbers and decimal

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Requirements

• Python 3.6 or higher
• Tkinter (usually comes pre-installed with Python)

Verify Tkinter Installation

python -m tkinter

If a small window opens, Tkinter is installed.

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Installation & Setup

Method 1: Direct Download

1. Download or clone the project
2. Ensure Python is installed on your system
3. No additional packages needed - Tkinter is included with Python

Method 2: Using Virtual Environment (Recommended)

# Create a virtual environment
python -m venv venv

# Activate it (Windows)
venv\Scripts\activate

# Activate it (macOS/Linux)
source venv/bin/activate

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How to Run in VS Code

Quick Start

1. Open the project folder in VS Code
2. Press `Ctrl + `` (backtick) to open the Terminal
3. Run the calculator:

   python scripts/scientific_calculator.py

Alternative Method

1. Right-click on scientific_calculator.py in the file explorer
2. Select "Run Python File in Terminal"

Using Python Interpreter

1. Click on the Python file
2. Click the ▶ Run button in the top-right corner
3. Select your Python interpreter if prompted

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Usage Guide

Input Methods

Using Mouse:

• Click any button to add it to the display
• Click equals (=) to calculate the result

Using Keyboard:

• Type numbers: 0-9
• Type operators: +, -, *, /, %
• Type parentheses: (, )
• Press Enter or = to calculate
• Press Backspace to delete last digit
• Press Escape to clear all (like C button)

Example Calculations

1. Basic: 5 + 3 = → Result: 8
2. Powers: 2 x^n 10 = → Result: 1024
3. Trigonometry: sin(π/2) = → Result: 1.0
4. Logarithms: log₁₀(100) = → Result: 2.0
5. Complex: (√16 + 5) × 2 = → Result: 18.0

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Function
0-9	Enter digits
+, -, *, /, %	Operators
(, )	Parentheses
Enter or =	Calculate
Backspace	Delete last digit
Escape	Clear all (C)

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Error Handling

The calculator gracefully handles:

• Division by zero: Shows "Error: Cannot divide by zero"
• Invalid trigonometric input: Shows "Error: asin/acos input must be between -1 and 1"
• Negative logarithms: Shows "Error: Cannot take log of non-positive number"
• Negative square root: Shows "Error: Cannot take sqrt of negative number"
• Large factorials: Limited to 170 to prevent overflow
• Mismatched parentheses: Shows "Error: Mismatched parentheses"
• Incomplete expressions: Shows "Error: Incomplete expression"

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Technical Details

Architecture

• Class-based design: ScientificCalculator class encapsulates all functionality
• Safe evaluation: Uses restricted namespace for eval() to prevent security issues
• State tracking: Tracks operator state to prevent invalid inputs
• Error propagation: All errors are caught and displayed to the user

Color Scheme

• Background: #1e1e1e (Dark Gray)
• Display: #2d2d2d (Darker Gray) with #00ff00 (Green text)
• Buttons:
  • Standard: #3d3d3d (Medium Gray)
  • Operators: #17a2b8 (Teal)
  • Clear/Equals: #dc3545 (Red)
  • Scientific: #6c757d (Dark Gray)

Mathematical Libraries Used

• math module: For trigonometric, logarithmic, and factorial functions

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Troubleshooting

Issue: Tkinter not found

Solution: Install tkinter

# Windows
pip install tk

# macOS
brew install python-tk

# Linux
sudo apt-get install python3-tk

Issue: Calculator window doesn't open

Solution: Check Python path in VS Code

1. Go to View → Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
2. Type "Python: Select Interpreter"
3. Choose the correct Python version

Issue: Buttons not responding

Solution: Click the calculator window to ensure it has focus, then try again

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File Structure

scientific-calculator/
├── scripts/
│   └── scientific_calculator.py    # Main calculator application
├── README.md                        # This file
└── [other project files]

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License

This project is open-source and available for educational and personal use.

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Contact & Support

Author: Zain Aftab

For issues, questions, or suggestions, feel free to reach out.

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Changelog

Version 1.0

• Initial release
• 40+ scientific functions
• Full error handling
• Dark theme GUI
• Keyboard support

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Future Enhancements

• History of calculations
• Conversion tools (units, bases)
• Custom variables
• Graphing functions
• Scientific notation display
• Undo/Redo functionality

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Enjoy your scientific calculator! Happy calculating! 🧮