How Far Scientific Calculators Have Come

Happy Friday the 13th - Blog Entry # 71

How Far Scientific Calculators Have Come

To put it briefly, the Casio fx-115 ES is a Casio 9860g minus the programming and graphing.

The TI-36X Pro is a TI-84 Plus minus the programming and graphing.

Both have definite integrals, numeric derivatives, numeric solvers, polynomial solvers, (some) complex number operations, statistics, base operations, a library of constants and conversions, and Σ (sum of a series).

All for about $20-$25.

40 years ago we were looking at getting just trigonometry and logarithms for $395. (HP 35). (Thank you Hewlett Packard for making the scientific calculator part of our lives. And for bringing back the HP 15C. )

I am excited about the new Casio fx-115ES Plus that is coming soon. I think the model adds product of a series (Π), GCM, LCD, integer part, and fraction part. (partially to catch up to the TI-36X Pro).

Casio has got to consider expanding the programmable fx-3650P, and marketing it in America.

Can a solar graphing calculator not be far behind? Who would do it first?

What about RPN? I have been forever dreaming of a having an RPN solar calculator.

Announcements

Coming at the end of April, I am anticipating April 30, 2012, I am going to post a review series on one-variable calculus. It will last about a few weeks.

Have a good weekend everyone!

This blog is property of Edward Shore. © 2012