CFALA REVIEW MATERIALS USING THE HP-12C …

1 CFALA REVIEW : Tips for USING the HP 12C2/9/2015By David Cary1 CFALA REVIEW MATERIALSUSING THE HP-12C CALCULATORD avid Cary, PhD, CFAS pring if you put CFA REVIEW in subject line)HP12 CBy David CaryNote: The HP12C is not my main calculator so there may be some shortcuts or hints I am overlooking, but I think the information here will be very helpful in preparing for the exam. Some of these slides are in the Level I lecture notes and others are new. CFA Society Los Angeles2 CFALA REVIEW : Tips for USING the HP 12C2/9/2015By David Cary2 CFA Society Los Angeles3HP-12C, 12C Platinum, 12C Platinum 25th anniversary edition, 12C 30th anniversary edition, and HP 12C Prestige.

2 (I prefer the newer models where I can use algebra instead of RPN)CFA Exam acceptable calculatorsUsually set P/Y = 1 & Clear memoriesHave a fresh battery,Consider taking a spareIf you have the newer models you have the choice of USING the Algebra format for entering data into formulas by [ f ] [ALG] or USING the RPN format by [ f ] [RPN].The older versions use the [RPN] format. Where appropriate both are discussed in these Society Los Angeles4 BASIC SETUPTo set number of decimal places being shown: To show 2 places: Use [ f ] [2], To show 4 places: Use [ f ] [4], clear the memories: [CLX] clears display and X-Register [ f ] CLEAR [ ] Clears Statistics Registers, stack registers, and display.

3 [ f ] CLEAR [FIN] clears Financial Registers [ f ] CLEAR [REG] clears data storage, financial, stack, last X and display[CHS] Changes the number in the display from positive to negative or from negative to REVIEW : Tips for USING the HP 12C2/9/2015By David Cary3 CFA Society Los Angeles5 ORDER OF OPERATIONS In the rules of algebra, calculations should be done in the following order: Items in parentheses, exponents and roots, multiplication and division, and finally addition and subtraction. For items in equal levels, go from left to right.

4 For example, the correct order for 2 3 + 4 5 should be 2 3 = 6, 4 5 = 20 and then 6 + 20 = 26. BUT, the ALG method in your calculator will probably chain the calculations in left to right order and do 2 3 = 6 , 6 + 4 = 10 , 10 5 = 50 . Not the right answer. There are several methods discussed below to get the correct answer, relatively efficiently, with examples:1. USING ALG and your calculator memories, and 2. USING ALG and parentheses, and3. USING Society Los Angeles6 USING RPN OR ALG The original HP-12C used RPN.

5 If you understand how to use it, it can be very efficient in calculations. The newer versions of the HP-12C offer both RPN and ALG. ALG is more like what most other calculators use. Example: calculate 2 + 3 x 5 RPN: 2 [ENTER] 3 [ENTER] 5 [x] [+]That multiplies 3 x 5 first and then adds 2 to get the correct answer 17. ALG: if you just enter 2 + 3 x 5 you will get the answer 25 as it does the calculations in order presented: 2 + 3 = 5, 5 x 5 = 25 In order to get the correct answer you can either1. Use memories: 2 [STO] [1], 3x5=15 [STO][2], [RCL][1] + [RCL][2] = 17, or2.

6 Use parentheses 2 + (3 x 5) : 2 + [g][STO] 3 [x] 5 [g][RCL] = 17[g][STO] is the left parenthesis ( and [g][RCL] is the right ) .Note: the final right ) is not really needed as the = sign assumes it, and3. For this example, do 3 x 5 first and add 2, but that won t work for 2x3 + REVIEW : Tips for USING the HP 12C2/9/2015By David Cary4 CFA Society Los Angeles7 USING MEMORIES Your calculator has 10 easily accessible memories: #0 to #9. You can store numbers in a memory by pressing [STO] [n] where [n] in the number of the memory where you want to store the number.

7 For example: 3 [STO] [1] will store the number 3 in memory #1. You can recall a stored number by pressing [RCL] [n] where [n] is the number of the memory you want to recall. For example: [RCL] [1] will give the value 3 (assuming you stored it in the previous step above). You do not need to clear memories as when you store a number it over-writes any value that may have been there Society Los Angeles8 ADDING, SUBTRACTING, MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING TO MEMORIES! The following steps can also be done with memories, but be careful, one missed step messes up the numbers.

8 3 [STO][1] puts 3 in Memory #1 (assume each step below is done in sequence). Then if you press 4 [STO] [+] 1, the value in #1 will be , (3+4=7) Then if you press 4 [STO] [ ] 1, the value in #1 will be , (7 4=3) Then if you press 4 [STO] [x] 1, the value in #1 will be , (3x4=12) and Then if you press 4 [STO][ ] 1, the value in #1 will be (12 4=3).8 CFALA REVIEW : Tips for USING the HP 12C2/9/2015By David Cary5 CFA Society Los Angeles9 CALCULATING MEANS AND COVARIANCES OF TWO ASSET PORTFOLIO Example from s Level I CFALA REVIEW lecture notes, SS 2, Reading 8: The question is to find the expected return rp andthe variance sp2 (and standard deviation) of this portfolio.

9 Before doing the calculations, look at the numbers carefully. A weight of 75% will be entered as A return of 20% can be entered as 20 and the answer will be in % value or as and the answer will be in decimal value . Note if they give you Variance or Standard Deviation. For part of the equations used you might need variance and other parts might need standard deviation. Also note if they give you covariance or correlation of the two assets. Remember that covariance = correlation x s1x s2. The following pages use s12 to denote 25%r20% 12%var625196 Covar120 CFA Society Los Angeles101.

10 USING MEMORIES: rp= r1 w1+ r2 w21: 20 = 15 [STO] [1] stores first step in #1 2: 12 = 3 [STO] [2] stores second step in #2 3: [RCL] [1] + [RCL][2] = 18 adds #1 and #2 to get answer sp2= w12 s12+ w22 s22+ 2 w1 w2 s121: [x2] 625 = [STO][1] x2is [g][x] 2: [x2] 196 = [STO][2]3: 2 120 = [STO] [3]4: [RCL] [1] + [RCL][2] + [RCL][3] = the variance 5: [x] = the standard deviation = [x] is [g][yx] Remember if they give you the standard deviations, you have to square them to get the variance for the first two parts of the equation just like you squared the weights.