Financial Calculator User Guide
B/E · Break-even and leverage
Choose an instruction to see the matching keys and values. Practice separately in the real calculator.
Open financial calculator ↗Worked examples
Know the mode controls
Choose BEV for break-even or target profit, MOS for sales safety margin, DOL / DFL / DCL for leverage, or QTY for sales and cost quantities. Select an unknown or output and SOLVE. Use positive prices and nonnegative costs; ratios are entered as percentages.
Review these controls before choosing a case. Keystroke steps show menus opening, selection and closure.
QBE · Open lesson
QBE · Break-Even / Target Quantity · Target profit — The quantity needed for the selected profit or profit ratio. Fractional results are not automatically rounded to whole units.
1. Organize the inputs
Break-even sales quantity
Use BEV, Target=profit, Result=quantity. Price=100, unit variable cost=60, fixed cost=100000 and target profit PRF=0. Find QBE.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| PRC | 100 | EXE |
| VCU | 60 | EXE |
| FC | 100,000 | EXE |
| PRF | 0 | EXE |
| QBE | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–12
Steps 13–13
3. Show answer and interpretation
units
Unit contribution is 40; break-even quantity=100000÷40=2500 units. A positive PRF models target profit. This is not an investment return.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗SBE · Open lesson
SBE · Break-Even / Target Sales · Target profit — Sales needed for the selected target. In MOS, enter the applicable break-even sales for the same period.
1. Organize the inputs
Break-Even / Target Sales · Target profit — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given BEV.PRC=100 · BEV.VCU=60 · BEV.FC=100000 · BEV.PRF=0, use the settings below to find BEV.SBE manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| PRC | 100 | EXE |
| VCU | 60 | EXE |
| FC | 100,000 | EXE |
| PRF | 0 | EXE |
| SBE | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–12
Steps 13–13
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
Break-Even / Target Sales · Target profit: 250000. Sales needed for the selected target. In MOS, enter the applicable break-even sales for the same period.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗QBE · Open lesson
QBE · Break-Even / Target Quantity · Target margin — The quantity needed for the selected profit or profit ratio. Fractional results are not automatically rounded to whole units.
1. Organize the inputs
Break-Even / Target Quantity · Target margin — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given BEV.PRC=100 · BEV.VCU=60 · BEV.FC=100000 · BEV.r%=10, use the settings below to find BEV.QBE manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| PRC | 100 | EXE |
| VCU | 60 | EXE |
| FC | 100,000 | EXE |
| r% | 10 | EXE |
| QBE | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–12
Steps 13–13
3. Show answer and interpretation
units
Break-Even / Target Quantity · Target margin: 3333.3333333333335. The quantity needed for the selected profit or profit ratio. Fractional results are not automatically rounded to whole units.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗SBE · Open lesson
SBE · Break-Even / Target Sales · Target margin — Sales needed for the selected target. In MOS, enter the applicable break-even sales for the same period.
1. Organize the inputs
Break-Even / Target Sales · Target margin — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given BEV.PRC=100 · BEV.VCU=60 · BEV.FC=100000 · BEV.r%=10, use the settings below to find BEV.SBE manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| PRC | 100 | EXE |
| VCU | 60 | EXE |
| FC | 100,000 | EXE |
| r% | 10 | EXE |
| SBE | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–12
Steps 13–13
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
Break-Even / Target Sales · Target margin: 333333.3333333334. Sales needed for the selected target. In MOS, enter the applicable break-even sales for the same period.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗SAL · Open lesson
SAL · Sales Amount — Nonnegative total sales for the analysis period. MOS requires positive sales as its percentage denominator.
1. Organize the inputs
Sales Amount — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given MOS.SBE=960000 · MOS.MOS=20, use the settings below to find MOS.SAL manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SBE | 960,000 | EXE |
| MOS | 20 | EXE |
| SAL | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
Sales Amount: 1200000. Nonnegative total sales for the analysis period. MOS requires positive sales as its percentage denominator.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗SBE · Open lesson
SBE · Break-Even / Target Sales — Sales needed for the selected target. In MOS, enter the applicable break-even sales for the same period.
1. Organize the inputs
Break-Even / Target Sales — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given MOS.SAL=1200000 · MOS.MOS=20, use the settings below to find MOS.SBE manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SAL | 1,200,000 | EXE |
| MOS | 20 | EXE |
| SBE | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
Break-Even / Target Sales: 960000. Sales needed for the selected target. In MOS, enter the applicable break-even sales for the same period.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗MOS · Open lesson
MOS · Margin of Safety — The percentage of sales above break-even: (sales − break-even sales) / sales × 100. It is negative when sales are below break-even.
1. Organize the inputs
Margin of Safety — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given MOS.SAL=1200000 · MOS.SBE=960000, use the settings below to find MOS.MOS manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SAL | 1,200,000 | EXE |
| SBE | 960,000 | EXE |
| MOS | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
%
Margin of Safety: 20. The percentage of sales above break-even: (sales − break-even sales) / sales × 100. It is negative when sales are below break-even.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗DOL · Open lesson
DOL · Degree of Operating Leverage — Contribution margin divided by operating profit. It is a multiplier, not a percentage; zero operating profit leaves it undefined.
1. Organize the inputs
Degree of Operating Leverage — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given DOL.SAL=1200000 · DOL.VC=600000 · DOL.FC=200000, use the settings below to find DOL.DOL manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SAL | 1,200,000 | EXE |
| VC | 600,000 | EXE |
| FC | 200,000 | EXE |
| DOL | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–7
3. Show answer and interpretation
×
Degree of Operating Leverage: 1.5. Contribution margin divided by operating profit. It is a multiplier, not a percentage; zero operating profit leaves it undefined.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗DFL · Open lesson
DFL · Degree of Financial Leverage — EBIT divided by EBIT minus interest expense. It is a multiplier and is undefined when the denominator is zero.
1. Organize the inputs
Degree of Financial Leverage — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given DFL.EBIT=400000 · DFL.ITR=80000, use the settings below to find DFL.DFL manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| EBIT | 400,000 | EXE |
| ITR | 80,000 | EXE |
| DFL | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
×
Degree of Financial Leverage: 1.25. EBIT divided by EBIT minus interest expense. It is a multiplier and is undefined when the denominator is zero.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗DCL · Open lesson
DCL · Degree of Combined Leverage — Contribution margin divided by profit after fixed costs and interest. It combines operating and financial leverage; a zero denominator is undefined.
1. Organize the inputs
Degree of Combined Leverage — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given DCL.SAL=1200000 · DCL.VC=600000 · DCL.FC=200000 · DCL.ITR=80000, use the settings below to find DCL.DCL manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SAL | 1,200,000 | EXE |
| VC | 600,000 | EXE |
| FC | 200,000 | EXE |
| ITR | 80,000 | EXE |
| DCL | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–8
3. Show answer and interpretation
×
Degree of Combined Leverage: 1.875. Contribution margin divided by profit after fixed costs and interest. It combines operating and financial leverage; a zero denominator is undefined.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗SAL · Open lesson
SAL · Sales Amount — Nonnegative total sales for the analysis period. MOS requires positive sales as its percentage denominator.
1. Organize the inputs
Sales Amount — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given QTY.PRC=200 · QTY.SalesQTY=500, use the settings below to find QTY.SAL manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| PRC | 200 | EXE |
| QTY | 500 | EXE |
| SAL | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
Sales Amount: 100000. Nonnegative total sales for the analysis period. MOS requires positive sales as its percentage denominator.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗PRC · Open lesson
PRC · Sales Price per Unit — A positive price per unit. In BEV, it must exceed variable cost per unit for a positive contribution margin.
1. Organize the inputs
Sales Price per Unit — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given QTY.SAL=100000 · QTY.SalesQTY=500, use the settings below to find QTY.PRC manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SAL | 100,000 | EXE |
| QTY | 500 | EXE |
| PRC | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount per unit
Sales Price per Unit: 200. A positive price per unit. In BEV, it must exceed variable cost per unit for a positive contribution margin.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗QTY · Open lesson
QTY · Sales Quantity — The nonnegative quantity in the Sales section: SAL = PRC × quantity. Solve it from sales and a positive unit price.
1. Organize the inputs
Sales Quantity — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given QTY.SAL=100000 · QTY.PRC=200, use the settings below to find QTY.SalesQTY manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SAL | 100,000 | EXE |
| PRC | 200 | EXE |
| QTY | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
units
Sales Quantity: 500. The nonnegative quantity in the Sales section: SAL = PRC × quantity. Solve it from sales and a positive unit price.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗VC · Open lesson
VC · Total Variable Cost — Nonnegative total variable costs for the same period as sales. QTY's Cost section relates this amount to cost per unit and quantity.
1. Organize the inputs
Total Variable Cost — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given QTY.VCU=150 · QTY.CostQTY=500, use the settings below to find QTY.VC manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| VCU | 150 | EXE |
| QTY | 500 | EXE |
| VC | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
Total Variable Cost: 75000. Nonnegative total variable costs for the same period as sales. QTY's Cost section relates this amount to cost per unit and quantity.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗VCU · Open lesson
VCU · Variable Cost per Unit — The nonnegative variable cost of producing or selling one unit, in the same currency as price.
1. Organize the inputs
Variable Cost per Unit — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given QTY.VC=75000 · QTY.CostQTY=500, use the settings below to find QTY.VCU manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| VC | 75,000 | EXE |
| QTY | 500 | EXE |
| VCU | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount per unit
Variable Cost per Unit: 150. The nonnegative variable cost of producing or selling one unit, in the same currency as price.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗QTY · Open lesson
QTY · Cost Quantity — The nonnegative quantity in the Cost section: VC = VCU × quantity. Solve it from variable cost and a positive unit cost.
1. Organize the inputs
Cost Quantity — manual workflow
Analyze business break-even, margin or leverage from sales, cost or interest conditions. Given QTY.VC=75000 · QTY.VCU=150, use the settings below to find QTY.CostQTY manually.
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| VC | 75,000 | EXE |
| VCU | 150 | EXE |
| QTY | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
3. Show answer and interpretation
units
Cost Quantity: 500. The nonnegative quantity in the Cost section: VC = VCU × quantity. Solve it from variable cost and a positive unit cost.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- Choose the correct submode and BEV Target/Result. Prices and denominator conditions must be valid and costs nonnegative; enter20 for20%. Break-even quantity needs sufficient contribution, and leverage is undefined at a zero denominator.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
5. Practice it yourself
The link opens a separate calculator tab. It does not fill, clear or change your calculator's inputs; follow the settings and rows above.
Practice in the financial calculator (new tab) ↗Supported results and operating manual
Targets across the lessons: BEV.QBE · BEV.SBE · MOS.SAL · MOS.SBE · MOS.MOS · DOL.DOL · DFL.DFL · DCL.DCL · QTY.SAL · QTY.PRC · QTY.SalesQTY · QTY.VC · QTY.VCU · QTY.CostQTY
B/E · Operating manual
- Choose BEV break-even/target profit, MOS safety margin, DOL/DFL/DCL leverage or QTY quantity conversions.
- Enter known values in the selected submode and SOLVE the unknown/output.
- Prices are positive, costs nonnegative and ratios percentages; zero denominators make ratios unavailable.
Keys and settings
Keys and workflow
- ↑↓ selects the active row. The highlighted row is the variable you are editing.
- Enter a number or expression (500*6 or 10000*(1.05)^10), then EXE to evaluate, store and advance. Dates use date input instead of expressions.
- SOLVE calculates the selected unknown/output from the other known values. MATH uses EXE only.
- CLR clears the draft while editing; otherwise it clears only the selected stored variable. Backspace recalls a stored value and deletes its last character, then EXE stores the change. Escape cancels a draft and restores the original value. After EXE advances, select the field you want to change. Clearing a stored input invalidates dependent results. Selecting a read-only result or history row leaves it untouched; settings and MATH history are preserved. MENU offers current-mode clear and calculator reset.
MENU → Fill Example provides working inputs for the current mode. N/A or an error means the inputs/settings do not support a valid result; check the highlighted field and domain restrictions.
Need help with signs or EXE/SOLVE? Read FAQ