have you ever...

Yes, I've been wondering about that for some time now. I used to do posting and work with figures on my computer for many years, and started using the numeric pad on my computer quite easily. Now, in my new job, I use the phone quite a lot and even today, made a few fatal errors trying to add up some figures and constantly pushing the wrong buttons! Also phoning people, I keep on pushing the wrong buttons on the phone and then I must try again. This is really frustrating. I wonder why it is like that? I don't have anything funny or intellectual about this, but I'm just curious as to why it is done like that.

I would say due to being invented in different times and therefore defining different standards they may look similar in appearance due to the numerical and alphabetical values printed on the devices but they were created for completely different purposes.

because they are two different things and are for too different purposes, why would you need add, subtract, multiply, divide and percents on a telephone for?

I do actually....In fact, I think its because calculator and even ATM machines follow the bottom up numeric standard as they are more on maths - number gets bigger as it gets higher - and numberic computation in that sense... Phone, on the other hand, is the top down numeric standard as it does not need to follow maths and just meant for making calls...Moreover, each number is also denoted alphabetically (also for phone calling) and that is easier to read from top to bottom than following the calculator standard.. My opinion though

The ones on the phone stop us from adding up all the calls we make before the bill comes in!!! Maybe. LOL Ellie :D