Financial Calculator User Guide
CF · Cash flow
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
Find NPV or IRR from equally spaced yearly flows. Store I% and CF0, then EXE each yearly CF to create the next row; recalculate after edits. There is no frequency field.
Review these controls before choosing a case. Keystroke steps show menus opening, selection and closure.
NPV · Open lesson
NPV · Net present value — Output: select NPV and SOLVE after entering CF0 and annual future cash flows.
1. Organize the inputs
Value and return of annual cash flows
Pay 1,000 now and receive 300, 400 and 500 at the next three year-ends. What is NPV at 8%, and the IRR of these flows?
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| I% | 8 | EXE |
| CF0 | -1,000 | EXE |
| CF1 | 300 | EXE |
| CF2 | 400 | EXE |
| CF3 | 500 | EXE |
| NPV | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–12
3. Show answer and interpretation
amount
NPV adds discounted flows; a positive result is net value above the assumed 8% return. IRR is the annual rate making NPV zero, independently of the 8% discount input.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- CF0 is today and later flows are equally spaced years, not irregular dates. The empty tail is excluded; multiple sign changes may prevent a unique IRR.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
- There is no FREQ repetition field. Enter repeated amounts in separate yearly CF rows, up to 101 stored cash flows.
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) ↗IRR · Open lesson
IRR · Internal rate of return — Output: select IRR and SOLVE. Both signs are required; multiple sign changes may give multiple or no usable roots.
1. Organize the inputs
Value and return of annual cash flows
Pay 1,000 now and receive 300, 400 and 500 at the next three year-ends. What is NPV at 8%, and the IRR of these flows?
| Variable | Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| I% | 8 | EXE |
| CF0 | -1,000 | EXE |
| CF1 | 300 | EXE |
| CF2 | 400 | EXE |
| CF3 | 500 | EXE |
| IRR | Unknown | Select → SOLVE |
2. Follow the keystrokes
Steps 1–6
Steps 7–8
3. Show answer and interpretation
%
NPV adds discounted flows; a positive result is net value above the assumed 8% return. IRR is the annual rate making NPV zero, independently of the 8% discount input.
4. Avoid these mistakes
- CF0 is today and later flows are equally spaced years, not irregular dates. The empty tail is excluded; multiple sign changes may prevent a unique IRR.
- Finish input with EXE before solving. Clear or changed inputs/settings invalidate earlier results; calculate again.
- There is no FREQ repetition field. Enter repeated amounts in separate yearly CF rows, up to 101 stored cash flows.
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: NPV · IRR
CF · Operating manual
- Start with today's CF0, then CF1, CF2… at equal annual intervals.
- EXE advances to the next row; the blank tail is excluded.
- Enter annual discount rate I%, select NPV and SOLVE; select IRR to solve the return.
- Multiple sign changes may produce multiple IRRs.
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