Online calculators figure taxes, energy savings

One of the Web's more attractive benefits is the proliferation of free online calculators of every description. A lot of very creative people with diverse interests have written calculator programs for school, home or business and are quite willing to let you share the goodies.

Developed by Jim Martindale, the tireless science and business researcher at the University of California-Irvine, Calculators On-Line Center

www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/RefCalculators.html

has the most current and complete collection of links to these tools. With nearly 9,300 calculators and counting, this site will solve problems, satisfy curiosity, and just plain entertain.

Be forewarned, however. A number of these calculators are extremely specialized and presuppose a working knowledge of a particular subject or discipline. Not all calculators are equally well-designed, operative, and/or user friendly, but since many of the less erudite are duplicated, try another if you get stuck. And if you're drawn like a moth toward the light of the financial calculators, you may want to read the article on page 158 of the May '99 Money magazine.

The author tried 10 of these calculators (including the one on Money's own Web site!) and found them all lacking in certain aspects. Springfield-Greene County Library locations will have this article in a paper or electronic format