Retro Review: TI-36 Solar

Retro Review:  TI-36 Solar 

Just the Facts:

Model:  TI-36 Solar

Company: Texas Instruments

Type: Scientific

Display:  10 digit with 2-digit exponents

Battery:  Solar

Logic: AOS

Memory Registers: 1

Years: 1984-1990

Features:

*  Complex Number Arithmetic

*  Rounding Numbers (to fixed number setting)

*  Base Conversions

*  Normal Distribution

*  Single-Variable Statistics

Examples with Complex Numbers

MODE 5:  CPLX

There are two separate registers to hold parts of complex numbers:

[ a ]:  Real part (rectangular),  Radius (polar)

[ b ]:  Imaginary part (rectangular), Angle (polar)

Example 1:  (4 + 3i) * (11 - 2i)

4 [ a ] 3 [ b ] [ × ] 11 [ a ] 2 [ +/- ] [ b ] [ = ]

Display:  50  

Press [ b ], Display:  25

Result:  50 + 25i

Example 2:  Convert 3 + 2.4i to polar form, degrees

3 [ a ] 2.4 [ b ] [ INV ] (R>P) 

Display:  3.841874542

Press [ b ],  Display:  38.65980826

3 + 2.4i = 3.841874542 ∠ 38.65980826°

Examples with Normal Distribution

MODE 6:  STAT

There are three functions that determine the area under the normal distribution curve:

P(t) from - ∞ to t,  lower tail curve

R(t) from 0 to t

Q(t) from t to ∞, upper tail curve

Note that for any t, P(t) + Q(t) = 1.

Also note that P(t), R(t), and Q(t) will operate on the standard normal curve, where μ = 0 and σ = 1, regardless of the amount of data points entered in Statistics mode through Σ+.

For z = t =2:

2 [ INV ] ( P(t) ) returns 0.97725

2 [ INV ] ( R(t) ) returns 0.47725

2 [ INV ] ( Q(t) ) returns 0.02275

Comparison:  TI-36 Solar vs. TI-35 Plus

The TI-36 Solar and TI-35 Plus have the same set of functions and features.  You can see my retro review from 2017 of the TI-35 Plus here:  http://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2017/09/retro-review-texas-instruments-ti-35.html

There are several keyboard differences:

Shift key is marked [ INV ] (with 2nd above it) for the TI-36 Solar, and the shift key is marked [ 2nd ] for the TI-35 Plus.

The equals key is twice in vertical height, covering the spans of the bottom two rows on the TI-35 Plus.

The top three rows* (all of the shift markings remain intact):

TI-36 Solar:

[CE/C] [ 1/x ] [ a ] [ b ] [ AC ]

[ hyp ] [ sin ] [ cos ] [ tan ] [ DRG ]

[ INV ] [ x^2 ] [ log ] [ ln x ] [ y^x ]

TI-35 Plus:

[ 2nd ] [ x^2 ] [ log ] [ ln x ] [ OFF ]

[ hyp ] [ sin ] [ cos ] [ tan ] [ DRG ]

[ y^x ] [ 1/x ] [ a ] [ b ] [ ÷ ]

The [ hyp ] key has the hyp^-1 label over it on the TI-35 Plus.  

*not counting the [ON/C] key above all the rows on the TI-35 Plus

Comparison:  TI-36 Solar vs. the original TI-36X Solar 

Here is my review from 2018 for the TI-36X Solar:  http://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2018/09/retro-review-texas-instruments-ti-36x.html

The TI-36X Solar:  

*  does not have the complex arithmetic mode of the TI-36 Solar

*  adds the Boolean functions AND, OR, XOR, XNOR, and NOT to the BIN, OCT, and HEX mode

*  adds linear regression

*  adds a second shift key, [ 3rd ]

*  there is no [ MODE ] key, every mode is selected through [ 3rd ] (key) combos

*  adds a fraction/decimal conversions

*  adds 8 scientific constants and 10 metric/US conversions

Verdict

Like the TI-35 Plus, the TI-36 Solar is a step up from the TI-30 series (1980s versions of TI-30).   Again, the TI-34 (1987) has the Boolean functions and fraction functions that the TI-36 Solar doesn't.  You don't have to worry about batteries at all since the TI-36 Solar runs entirely on solar/light power.

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2020.  Edward Shore.   Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited.  This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author. 

Retro Review: Texas Instruments TI-36X Solar

Retro Review:  Texas Instruments TI-36X Solar

Continuing on the Labor Day 2018 of posts, I now present a retro review of a scientific calculator I couldn’t put down as a young student: the TI-36X Solar. For the class of non-programmable solar scientific calculators back in the day, the TI-36X was the one of the high end calculators. 

If you are expecting a review of the multi-line (and current) TI-36X Pro, then please click here:  https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2011/04/

General Information

Company:  Texas Instruments

Type:  Solar Scientific Algebraic (postfix)

Display:  10 digits with 2 digit exponents (power of 10)

Power:  Solar

Memory:  3 (store, recall, sum (M+), exchange)

Years:  1991 - 2011

Original Cost: $15 - $20

Documentation:  Manual, Quick Reference Card

Texas Instruments no longer manufactures new TI-36X Solar calculators, so if you want one, pawn shops or internet websites such as eBay would be the place to get one.

Features

* Logarithmic and trigonometric calculations

* Base conversion and Boolean logic

* Linear Regression (intercept is labeled ITC, slope labeled SLP, correlation labeled COR)

* Fractions with conversion and improper fraction conversion (automatic simplification)

* Combinations and permutations

* Eight Scientific Constants and Ten Metric-US Conversions

Scientific Constants ( [3rd], (CONST), appropriate key)

C:  speed of light

g:  Earth’s gravitational constant

me: Mass of an electron

e:  electron charge

h:  Plank’s constant

Na:  Avogadro’s constant

R:  Ideal Gas Constant

G:  Universal Gravitational Constant

Metric-US Conversions

Centimeters/Inches  (1 in = 2.54 cm)

Liters/Gallons  (1 gal = 3.785411784 L)

Pounds/Kilograms (1 lb = 0.45359237 kg)

Fahrenheit/Celsius Temperature

Grams/Ounces (1 oz = 28.34952313 g)

The Exchange Key ([x<>y]) key does a lot  

The TI-36X makes good use of the exchange key, and it is a non-shifted key which facilitates easy operation.  In addition in allowing users to interchange arguments (i.e. switching the subtrahend and minuend in a subtraction calculation), the exchange key allows for:

* Entering n and r in combination and permutation calculations

* Entering x and y in Rectangular to Polar conversions

* Entering r and θ in Polar to Rectangular conversions

* Entering x and y in paired-data statistics (linear regression)

Modes

DEC:  Decimal representation, floating decimal mode, normal calculations

BIN, OCT, HEX:  Binary, Octal, Hexadecimal integer modes, respectively.  Boolean functions such as AND, OR, and NOT only work in these integer modes

STAT 1:  1 Variable Statistics

STAT 2:  2 Variable Statistics/Linear Regression

TI-36X Solar:  1991 keyboard, 1996 keyboard, 2004 keyboard

Keyboard Design and History

The design of the keyboards of the TI-36X Solar evolved over the years.  The first major design was rectangular, most of the keys were black with light font.  The arithmetic keys were at first dark gray, then blue.  This was the shortest keyboard in length.  The calculator had a slide hard case.

Then in 1993, the TI-36X Solar had a keyboard with a rounded edge at the bottom of the keyboard.  The 1996 version is slightly longer in size, with the yellow 2nd key and blue-purple 3rd key.  Constants were labeled in green. 

The final design of the TI-36X came in 2004, with an even bigger keyboard.  This time the keyboard was silver with the royal blue 2nd key, lime green 3rd key, and constants marked in maroon.  This is the most readable keyboard, however the 2004 version needs more light to operate than its previous versions.  This version also had a snap on case. 

With the exception of the 1993 revamp, the keys were plastic.  The 1993 version had rubber keyboards.  The keys generally had a good response to them. 

Of the three TI-36X Solar calculators I have now (just purchased one with the 1991 original style keyboard), the manufacturing dates where 12/1990 (1991 keyboard), 6/2000 (1996 keyboard), and 6/2010 (2004 keyboard). 

TI-35X, the battery operated version of the TI-36X Solar, 1993 keyboard with rubber keys

The TI-36X Solar had a battery operated version, named the TI-35 Plus.  I have a TI-35X in a 1993 version keyboard with the rubber keys. 

The TI-36X Solar was itself a successor to the TI-36 Solar.  The TI-36 Solar lacked constants, English-US conversions, fractions, and linear regression, but had complex number arithmetic. 

The successor the TI-36X Solar is the TI-36X Pro, which has a multi-line screen, adds among other things, integration, derivatives, function tables, textbook input/output, matrices, and additional regression types.

My introduction to the TI-36X Solar was when in I was in middle school back in the early 1990s.  I couldn’t put this calculator down.  I wished I remembered to use the hard cover because one day I had the TI-36X Solar in my pocket with a pencil.  The pencil poked through the solar panel and it was the end of it. 

  

Verdict

The TI-36X Solar is a feature rich scientific calculator and as I said before, one of the line non-programming solar scientific calculators at the time.  The keyboard is responsive, you have a nice set of common constants and conversions.  I like the layout of the keyboard.  This is a good calculator to pick up, even if it is just for collection purposes.   For a retro calculator, the TI-36X Solar is a definite recommend from me. 

Source:

Woerner, Jorgen.  “TI-36X Solar” Datamath http://www.datamath.org/Sci/Modern/TI-36XSOLAR.htm 

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2018.  Edward Shore.   Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited.  This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author.  Please contact the author if you have questions.

Favorite Solar Calculators – Six Years Later

Favorite Solar Calculators – Six Years Later

Favorite Solar Calculators – Reading that Blog Entry Today

On June 10, 2012, I listed some of my favorite solar calculators of all time: 

https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2012/06/my-favorite-solar-calculators-of-all.html

I still love the TI-25X Solar, I wish the screens weren’t so damn fragile!  I went through two of them. 

I have two fx-115 ES Plus calculators, one gray and one black.  The black looks much better!

Maybe one day I’ll get the BA 35 Solar again from eBay.  Maybe I will give the Casio FC-200V a second shot. 

As of March 2018, Casio fx-3650pII is the current edition of the fx-3650P.  The fx-3650PII is in the shape of the fx-115ES/991ES/300ES/82ES Plus.  That’s about it from what I can get from research:  still four program areas with 360 steps and 7 variables.

Info on the current fx-3650PII:  http://www.casio-intl.com/asia/en/calc/products/fx-3650PII/

No, Casio still currently sells the fx-3650PII only outside the United States, which means for us Americans, we have to order online.  An open invite to Casio to stock the office stores and university stores with this model in the States is extended. 

The current Sharp EL-W516 edition, the EL-516WT, eliminated the formula storage, eliminated the catalog, and reduced the definable keys from 4 to 3, I am not happy about that.

My review on the EL-W516T:  https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-sharp-el-w516t.html

Three More Inductees

I have three more to add to the list I posted in 2012:

Casio fx-991EX Classwiz – 2015 – Present

The Classwiz model is the next step in Casio solar powered calculators.  They have an icon menu, like their graphing calculators, and there is an [OPTN] key that allows users to specific mode-specific functions.  Modes includes computation (COMP), complex numbers (arithmetic, polar/rectangular conversions), base integers, matrices up to 4 x 4, vectors, statistics, distributions, basic spreadsheets up to 5 x 45, equation solving, inequalities and ratios.  The newest feature is the QR function that will take a screen shot of the calculator, or in some cases, statistical graphs, which can be retrieved from the Casio QR Website or app.

See my review of the Classwiz here:  https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2015/11/casio-fx-991ex-classwiz-review.html

I can only hope the next iteration the Classwiz and the fx-3650P or fx-50FII merge so programming will be included.

TI-30 SLR+ – 1987 – 1990s

This is a bigger version of the TI-25X Solar (TI-30X Solar internationality).  This calculator completely runs on solar and light power.  What I look about this better than the TI-25X are the keys and the fact the display isn’t so fragile.  See my detailed blog of it here:  https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2014/09/ti-30-slr-and-memories-of-school.html

Casio fx-260 Solar II (we can included the Casio fx-260 Solar, fx-82 Solar, fx- 82 Solar II)

Original fx-260 Solar/fx-82 Solar:  2000s – present

Current fx-260 Solar II/fx-82 Solar II: 2017 – present

I don’t know what I was thinking when I skipped this model last time.  The fx-260 offers a wide variety of functions:  trigonometry, logarithms, fractions, degrees and degrees-minute-second conversions, polar/rectangular conversions, and one variable statistics.  This is great calculator for those who want a small, compact, calculator that attacks the basics.  The fx-260 series is completely solar powered.  Pictured is the newer fx-260 Solar II, which the mode markers have been mode to the back of the calculator case.  Can’t beat the classics. 

Review:  https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-casio-fx-260-solar-ii-fx-82.html

Eddie

This blog is property of Edward Shore, 2018.

My Favorite Solar Calculators of all time

In no particular order...

Texas Instruments TI-25X Solar - mid to late 1990s

This small calculator packs a lot of punch. 8 digit that converts to 5 digit with 2 digit exponent any time the number exceed eight digits. Features include reciprocal, polar/rectangular conversion, one variable statistics, and decimal-DMS conversion. When I had the TI-25X the first time, back in the late 90s, it was my go-to calculator for quick calculations. I just bought another one from Amazon a week ago.

The calculator is truly solar, that is no batteries are used in any operation, which is rare in solar scientific calculators. (The battery, I think, aids long-term memory storage).

The trouble with the 25X was protecting it. It now lives in a small camera case with bubble wrap around it when not in use. I wish Texas Instruments was still manufacturing the 25X.

Casio FX-115ES Series - 2004-present

This is my favorite calculator Casio has produced. Not only the calculator operates on solar power, but it also was the first (I believe) calculator to have calculus functions: integral, derivative, and sum of a function. Matrices and vectors are also featured. The calculator can solve equations in one variable. Entry of mathematical expressions is straight forward. You can set the calculator to textbook entry mode or linear (classic) mode. I prefer the latter (the less pairs of parentheses I have to track the better).

The 2012 revision, fx-115ES PLUS (pictured), adds, among other things, integer factoring, verification tests, and product of a function.

Outside the United States, this calculator is named the fx-991DE/ES (PLUS).

Texas Instruments BA 35 Solar - early 1990s
(not pictured :( - I don't have it anymore)

Anyone who can operate a BA 35 or a BA II Plus should feel comfortable with the BA 35 Solar. The BA 35 Solar has the following:

* Time Value of Money, using periodic interest rate.
* Cost Sell Margin/Markup calculations
* Interest Conversion
* Amortization
* One variable statistics.

I gave my BA 35 Solar to my dad and he loved using it. Unfortunately, the display went nuts and it had to be retired.

Texas Instruments TI-36X Series (TI-36 Solar: 1986-early 1990s, TI-36X Solar: 1993-present, TI-36X Pro: 2011-present)

If you wanted the most advanced non-graphing calculator, you pretty much went for the TI-36X series. The original TI-36 Solar was powerful non-programmable calculator which had base conversions, hyperbolic functions, normal distribution calculations, and complex numbers (limited to arithmetic). When Texas Instruments upgraded the 36 to the 36X, the normal distribution calculations and complex numbers were dropped, but eight scientific constants, eight metric-English conversions, and linear regression were added.

This calculator received a lot of use during my days of middle and high school. I owned the original 1993 design and it went with me everywhere I went. The solar panel was punctured by a pencil and it died. Eventually, I got the 1996 design (pictured) and is my favorite design of the TI-36X Solar. Texas Instruments redesigned the calculator in 2004, giving it a gray faceplate and white keys, which I also have.

In 2011, Texas Instruments released the TI-36X Pro (named TI-30X Pro in Europe), which a serious upgrade of the 36X series. New features include derivatives, integrals, tables, equation solver, and entry in textbook format. For me, I had to get used to the keyboard because a lot of the keys cycled through functions. An example: the sine key (sin, sin^-1, sinh, sinh^-1), math constants ( π , e, the complex number i ), and the key that annoys me the most, the variable key (x, y, z, t, a, b, c, d).

If you waited to 2012 to consider getting a TI-36X Pro, you did a good thing in waiting. The early versions were buggy and were erroneous in calculations involving π and fractions. Thankfully, TI fixed the bugs and now I can confidently use the TI-36X Pro.

Casio fx-3650P: 2002 - present?

Casio, I think, is the only manufacturer of calculators left that produces programming calculators that also operate on solar power (with battery). I purchased this calculator on eBay (unfortunately it is not sold in stores in the United States, it should be IMHO).

The calculator has 360 program steps on which 4 programs can be stored. The programming language is a simplified set of the programming commands found on the Casio fx-5800p and its graphing calculators. Commands include LABEL, GOTO, basic testing, input prompt, and output.

Other features include complex number arithmetic, base conversions, and Numeric integrals.

Victor V34 - 2000s

Take a good loom at this calculator. If this calculator reminds you of the super popular Texas Instruments TI-30X IIs, it is because the keyboard design is similar.

While the TI-30X IIs sold in many colors for the 2009, 2010, 2011, and (I'm expecting) 2012 back to school seasons, the Victor V34 offers a feature that the TI-30X IIs doesn't: base conversions and logic operations. I purchased this hard to find calculator in a local stationery store in Glendora, CA.

Sharp EL-W516 Series - 2000s - Present

There are two functions two versions. The original had a gray faceplate. Sometime in 2011(?), Sharp made a design change and made the entire plate black. The model is now the EL-W516X with black keys, white, green, and gold lettering. In the United States, the Sharp calculators can be found at Target stores.

Like the Casio fx-115 ES, the Sharp EL-W516 series offers entering calculations in textbook format. Unlike the fx-115ES where you can get exact or approximate answers when demanded, the EL-W516 forces you to cycle through the format of the answers (exact/mixed fraction, improper fraction, decimal approximation) with the press of the CHANGE key (this applies to Normal mode).

The Sharp EL-W516 series offers unique functions:
* Drill feature - a quiz of arithmetic problems
* Functions with lists
* 4 definable function keys
* 4 definable formulas (I love this feature)
* Pental Numbers (Base 5)


That is a list of my favorite solar calculators. Eddie



This blog is property of Edward Shore. © 2012