TI-35 Plus Notes vs Sharp EL-501X (and almost all of its clones)
Ever wanted a TI-35 Plus? First you could go to eBay or other online stores and try to hunt one down or invest up to $10 for one of the many close-version that are still manufactured and sold today. There is even a version sold at the Dollar Store! (The keyboard of that $1 Store I bought is crappy.) Today I will be comparing the Sharp EL-501X against the 1989 TI-35 Plus (and its solar sister, TI-36 Solar (no X)).
Since I never actually owned a TI-35 Plus, all the information will be from its manual. I did buy a TI-36 Solar guidebook, 20 years ago or so, from a clearance bin at Toys R Us of all places. The Sharp EL-501X I bought this week primarily for this blog entry, and to replace a blue cased EL-501X I gave to my cousin's daughter.
Source of the TI-35 Plus information: www.datamath.org
TI-35 Plus Page: http://www.datamath.org/Sci/Modern/TI-35-PLUS.htm
Side plug: Datamath is an excellent web page for all things Texas Instruments calculators, past and preset.
Commonalities
Internal Digits: 12
Modes:
Computational
Complex Mode
Base Display Modes: Binary, Decimal, Octal, Hexadecimal
One Variable Statistics
Complex Mode is limited to arithmetic. The real part is stored and recalled using the [ a ] key and the [ b ] key is for the imaginary part. ( a + bi )
Base Display Modes (except for Decimal) is limited to arithmetic. To convert numbers, just call their respective mode.
Number of memory registers: 1
Factorial Function: n!. Only takes positive integers or zero unless an error occurs.
Polar/Rectangular Conversions:
[ a ] is used for x and r
[ b ] is used for y and θ
Basic Scientific Function set: hyperbolic functions, trigonometric functions and inverses, exponential functions and inverses, reciprocal, square root, cube root, power, arithmetic, π, 3-decimal random number (usually labeled RND)
Differences
Display:
TI-35 Plus: 10 digits plus 2 digit exponent
EL-501X:10 digits or 8 digit plus 2 digit exponent
Exchange Key:
TI-35 Plus has two: EXC to change the number in the display with the number in the memory register. x<>y exchanges operands in power, root, division, and subtraction calculations.
EL-501X: Only the latter is present, often symbolized by a vertical line with up and down arrows. ( [2ndF] [ ( ] )
Decimal Display Settings:
TI-35 Plus: Four permanent modes: floating, fixed, scientific, engineering
EL-501X: Two permanent modes: floating and fixed. Numbers can be toggled between floating/fixed and scientific notation by pressing [ F ←→ E ]
Things the TI-35 Plus had that the EL-501X and most of the clones do not:
Permutations and Combinations. The TI-35 Plus facilitated the use of the [ a ] and [ b ] keys.
Normal Cumulative Distribution Functions (mean = 0, variance = 1, given z):
R(z): area between 0 and z
Q(z): area from z to positive infinity (upper tail)
P(z): area from negative infinity to z (lower tail)
In more advanced calculators and mathematical software, the normalcdf function calculates P(z) (lower tail).
One variate of the EL-501X, the Canon F-604 has permutations, combinations, memory exchange, and fractions. Unfortunately the one I bought not to long ago, the zero key reseted the calculator, so I had to return it. Hopefully it is not the case with all F-604s.
Yes - entry level scientific calculators still exist in the market.
Take care everyone, thanks for comments and questions. Much appreciated. Eddie
This blog is property of Edward Shore. 2014