Comment 6 for bug 647466

Yes, as a workaround for this issue, you can downgrade to 5.28.2. Lucid Lynx provides a package for that version, which can be installed in Maverick. These instructions assume you're using the Ubuntu Software Center.

First, uninstall the current package version. In the Ubuntu Software Center, search for "gcalctool". One result, called "Calculator", will come up. Click Remove. Assume you're using regular Ubuntu (rather than Kubuntu, Xubuntu, etc.), you will be asked to uninstall the ubuntu-desktop package. You must click "Remove Anyway" to uninstall gcalctool (since gcalctool is a dependency of ubuntu-desktop). In the future, when the latest version of gcalctool again meets your needs, you should reinstall ubuntu-desktop.

Once the removal operation completes, get this package if your architecture is i386:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/gcalctool_5.30.0.is.5.28.2-0ubuntu2_i386.deb

Or this package if your architecture is amd64:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+archive/primary/+files/gcalctool_5.30.0.is.5.28.2-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb

(These links can be found manually, if you wish, by going to https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gcalctool and expanding "5.30.0.is.5.28.2-0ubuntu2" under "The Lucid Lynx (supported)".)

Open it in the Ubuntu Software Center. It will say "Please install 'Gcalctool' via your normal software channels. Only install this file if you trust the origin." Click Install.

Gcalctool 5.28.2 is now installed. Note that you can reinstall ubuntu-desktop now if you wish (since the gcalctool package you just installed fulfills the dependency). Doing so would ensure that you are automatically presented with new packages that become part of the Ubuntu Desktop system (which is the behavior of a properly functioning Ubuntu system). However, you would also be automatically presented with the current version of gcalctool, so you'd have to unselect it every time you do an update, or you'd end up going back to the newer version that does not meet your needs.