In fairness, you can use the same general approach with an algebraic calculator. You can use an algebraic calc to break down problems into simpler expressions, store intermediate results, and then combine those intermediate results to get the final answer. People do it all the time.
But if you do calculations this way, then the RPN calc has a big edge in terms of ease and efficiency. The fundamental difference is that an algebraic calc puts operators between two numerical arguments, e.g. 2 + 3. This approach works fine for some problems, but is not optimal if you need to work with a series of saved intermediate results. If you want to add the last two saved results, for example, you have to "juggle" them in some manner to get the + operator between them. Algebraic calcs provide ways to do this, but they are clumsy.
The RPN calc, in contrast, puts the operator after the two numerical arguments, e.g. 2 3 +. This approach happens to work very nicely with a series of stored intermediate results. If you want to add the last two intermediate results, for example, you just hit the + key. No juggling is required, because the last two intermediate results are already in place and waiting for the operator.
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