Spotlight: Casio fx-451 Calculator

Spotlight: Casio fx-451 Calculator

Quick Facts

Model: fx-451

Company: Casio

Type: Solar Scientific Algebraic

Memory: 1 (store, recall, exchange (X←→M), sum (M+), subtract (M-))

Years in Production: 1985 to 1987 per calculator.org (https://www.calculator.org/calculators/Casio_fx-451.html)

Display: 10 digits

Casio Ledudu’s page on the fx-451: https://casio.ledudu.com/pockets.asp?lg=eng&type=1016

Folding Calculator Power

The Casio fx-451 is a folding scientific calculator. On the left side, there are the arithmetic keys, the shift, mode, and on keys, the display (10 digits), and the solar panel that operates the calculator. The right side has touch, rubber-like, membrane keys. The right side has all the scientific, statistical, fraction, base conversion, and imperial/metric conversions.

You can see my review of the fx-450 from 2018 here: https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2018/07/retro-review-casio-fx-450-calculator.html

The available modes for the fx-451 are:

. (decimal point): SD (Standard Deviation), single variable statistics. Statistics functions are marked in blue.

0: DEC. Decimal mode. This is also the calculator’s normal/computation mode.

1: BIN. Binary integer mode (base 2). Boolean logic operators are available and are marked in green.

2: OCT. Octal integer mode (base 8). Boolean logic operators are available and are marked in green.

3: HEX. Hexadecimal integer mode (base 16). Boolean logic operators and the letter digits A-F (A=10 to F=15), are available and are marked in green.

4: DEG. Degree angle mode.

5: RAD: Radians angle mode.

6: GRA: Gradians angle mode.

7: FIX: Fixed point decimal setting

8: SCI: Scientific notion decimal setting.

9: NORM: Floating point decimal setting. Numbers less than 0.01 are shown in scientific notation form.

The engineering keys, [ENG] and [←ENG], temporarily show the number in display using scientific notation where the exponents are in multiples of 3 (i.e. 10^-6, 10^-3, 10^0, 10^3, 10^6, etc.)

Like many Casio scientific calculators, the fx-451 sports the fraction key [a b/c], allowing both entry of fractions (proper and mixed), and conversions between fractions and decimal approximations.

In addition, the fx-451 has nine scientific constants. (by pressing [SHIFT] [1-9]).  The constants are:

1. Speed of Light (c)

2. Plank’s constant (h)

3. Universal gravitational constant (G)

4. Electron charge (e)

5. Mass of an electron (me)

6. Atomic mass constant (u)

7. Avogadro’s constant (Na)

8. Boltzmann constant (k)

9. Molar volume of ideal gas (Vm)

All units are in SI units, and are listed with the constant on the keyboard.

The fx-451 Adds Imperial/Metric Conversions

(fx-450 (top), fx-451 (bottom))

The fx-451 is a later version of the fx-450 and has added a set of eight imperial/metric conversions:

Temperature: degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius

Length: inches/millimeters

Volume: gallons/liters, ounces/grams

Mass: pounds/kilograms

Energy: calories/Joules

Pressure: inches of Mercury/kilopascals, atm/megapascals

Conversions are called by the two arrow keys [ ← ] and [ → ], and are they are marked in gold. I always find conversions to be a welcome addition to any calculator.

Solar Power

Like it’s cousin, the fx-450, the fx-451 operates only by solar and light power, hence no other batteries are required.

This is a fun calculator to have, and Casio does a really good job of including lots of features even in its basic scientific calculators.

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2026. 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: Casio fx-450 Calculator

Retro Review:  Casio fx-450 Calculator

General Information

Company:  Casio

Type:  Solar Scientific Algebraic (postfix)

Memory:  1 (store, recall, M+)

Years:  1983 (probably produced during the 1980s with various editions)

Original Cost: Unknown, my guess is $20-$30

Casio Ledudu’s page on fx-450:  http://casio.ledudu.com/pockets.asp?type=1334&lg=eng

It’s a Folding Calculator!

The Casio fx-450 is a folding scientific calculator: one side has the normal, plastic keys with the display and solar panel.  The scientific functions are located on the other panel are touch, rubber-like keys.  The large amount of keys allows for a relatively uncrowded keyboard since the shift key only affects a few keys. 

Modes included on fx-450:

* Single Variable Statistics

* Base Conversions with Boolean conversions (BIN, OCT, HEX)

In addition, the fx-450 has fraction calculations and nine scientific constants (by pressing [MODE] [SHIFT] [1-9]).  The constants, with the exception of the speed of light, have older values (they were updated as of the 2014 CODATA) and they are:

1. Speed of Light (c)

2. Plank’s constant (h)

3. Universal gravitational constant (G)

4. Electron charge (e)

5. Mass of an electron (me)

6. Atomic mass constant (u)

7. Avogadro’s constant (Na)

8. Boltzmann constant (k)

9. Molar volume of ideal gas (Vm)

Verdict

I like the idea of a folding keyboard, especially one of this design.  However, I recommend that you take extra care of the calculator. If the calculator was shipped in bubble wrap, I would keep the bubble wrap and store the calculator.  A concern is the contacts to the scientific keys could be worn. 

The fx-450 is a multi-function scientific calculator with a great set of features and it makes a good collector’s item. 

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.