How to Set Decimal Places on the BA II Plus
FORMAT changes only what you SEE. The calculator always keeps ~13 significant digits inside — display 2 for money, more when a question asks for precision.
Step by step
- 1
Open FORMAT
2ND + . (the decimal key) shows DEC = 2.
[2ND][FORMAT]
- 2
Enter 0–9 and press ENTER
9 gives nine decimals — handy for verifying answers like IRR to the sixth decimal.
9[ENTER]
- 3
Quit
2ND QUIT. Stored values never changed — only the rendering.
[2ND][QUIT]
Worked example: IRR at two precisions (T5)
The T5 cash flows give IRR = 13.07 at DEC = 2 and 13.066239 at DEC = 6 — the same internal number, two different masks. BAIIPlus.org’s FORMAT worksheet behaves identically, and calculations always run at full precision.
[2ND][FORMAT]6[ENTER][2ND][QUIT]
Web practice cannot replace the physical calculator in a proctored exam — only calculators on the exam organizer’s current list are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Does FORMAT round my stored values?
+
No. Registers keep full precision; only the display is quantized (half-up). Amortization on this site likewise uses the unrounded PMT.
How many decimals can exams require?
+
Two decimals is the money default; some questions ask for four or six — set FORMAT once and both the simulator and the physical machine comply.