Build a Basic Calculator with Arduino UNO – Easy Project

Apps and online services

Arduino IDE

About this project

One day, my math teacher asked me as I was talking about arduino : "Can you do math with it?".I replied "I don't know", and that got me thinking about how to make that happen. Then, I kinda figured it out how to do it and i wanna share now.

So here it is! A very simple way of doing math with arduino. For my project, I used arduino UNO, but I belive it works with any of them.

The step-by-step is very simple:

• Connect the board with the computer

• Upload the code below

• Enable Serial monitor

• Write a calculation that is valid (See the code for more instructions)

I plan to make a better calculator, but for now it's just that : a way of doing basic math. If you want the "better" calculator, please let me know.

Stay tuned to see a better "calculator"! Hope to see you soon!

Code

• CODE FOR CALCULATOR

CODE FOR CALCULATORArduino

/* Serial arduino calculator
in this project, you can make basic
arithmetic with the help of arduino,
almost like a very rustic calculator.
It accepts two numbers and a signal, and
makes the operation, witch can be of +, -, * or /.
E.G. : send "2+3" (Without quotes and with no
space separing the info), and arduino answers 5.
Digit "7-3" and arduino te responde com 4.
Criado por João Paulo Rodrigues Poltronieri

This code is on public domain
*/

// first of all, create variables to store
// the information sent to arduino

lng number1; // first number of the calculation,
// sent through the Serial monitor

// If you take a look, it's a long varible, so
// we're able to use big numbers

long number2; // second number sent through the SM

char calSignal; // create a char variable to store
// the calcuation signal.

long result; // result of the calculation

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // begins serial communications
  Serial.println("Send me a calculation"); 
  Serial.println("E.G. : 2+3");
  Serial.println();
  // prints this to test serial communication, and
  // prints a line space
}

void loop() {
  while(Serial.available() > 0) {
    // while there are dada being sent to arduino,
    
    number1 = Serial.parseInt();
    // number1 will be the first number
    
    // Note the use of "Serial.parseInt, so,
    // in case you use 23, it stores in 
    // number1 the number 23
    
    // if we used Serial.read(), it would
    // only store 2
    
    calSignal = Serial.read(); // calSignal will be the first
    // info after the first number
    
    number2 = Serial.parseInt(); // stores the second
    // number in number2
    
    resolucao(); // Custom function to solve the calculations
 
    Serial.println("Resultado = ");
    Serial.println(result);
    // Prints the result of the calculation
    Serial.println(); // jumps a line
    Serial.println("Outra conta, por favor"); // prints
    Serial.println(); // jumps a line
  }
}

void resolucao() { // Custom function that
  // solves the calculations
  
  switch (calSignal) {
    // Here we use "switch...case" to save some space on
    // the sketch. It's, basicaly, a function that verifies
    // various "if" statements.
    
    // Here, it verifies what's the value held by 
    // calSigna. Basicaly, it verifies the "signal"
    // of the calculation
    
    case '+' : // if calSignal is '+'
    result = number1 + number2; // sums the numbers
    // and makes result hold the value of the calculation
    break; // break to exit the "case"
    case '+' : // if calSignal is '+'
    result = number1 - number2; // subtracts the numbers
    // and makes result hold the value of the calculation
    break; // break to exit the "case"
    case '+' : // if calSignal is '+'
    result = number1 * number2; // multiplies the numbers
    // and makes result hold the value of the calculation
    break; // break to exit the "case"
    case '/' : // se calSignal for '/'
    result = number1 / number2; // divides the numbers
    // and makes result hold the value of the calculation
    // PS: in case the division isn't exact, the result 
    // will be the nearest integrer
    break; // break to exit the "case"
    default : // If it's not any of these...
    Serial.println("CONTA INVÁVIDA");
    // Creates an "error"
    Serial.println();
    resultado = 0;
  }
}

Schematics