Scientific calculators are a necessity for many students today, whether you are a freshman in high school, taking an algebra class, or you are in graduate school, trying to pass an advanced calculus course. If you are searching for a high-quality and accurate calculator to help you with your math, these calculators are undoubtedly a great investment.
Not only do they speed up your work and help you save a lot of time, but they can actually eliminate a lot of math errors that would otherwise cost you money, or even brainpower, for that matter.
The Top 4 Scientific Calculators
After thorough research, we have found that there are three highly recommended calculators that would suit any student and meet their expectations, listed in no specific order.
1. Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Graphics Calculator
By far one of the top-selling models and companies, Texas Instruments does not disappoint with their latest updated calculator, the TI-84 Plus. Although not as small as others, this calculator comes with many advanced features, including a USB port making it easier to transfer information from either calculator to calculator, or from your computer to the calculator itself.
It comes with functions for statistics, such as data and graph analysis, engineering, calculus, basic algebra, trigonometry, and logarithms. It can also be used for solving for financial aspects as well.
The TI-84 plus has a fast processor and a 24 KB Ram for high-efficiency storage. There are twelve main apps that are pre-loaded on to the calculator for you, including conic graphing, inequality graphing, transformation graphing, probability simulations, and other science tools. This calculator only requires four AAA batteries and shuts off automatically after awhile of no usage, improving your calculator’s battery life.
As one of the best sellers in many stores and websites, such as Staples and Amazon, the TI-84 will provide you with everything you need for conquering math courses. Although more expensive, most come with a warranty and are very durable, prepared to last years for you.
2. Casio FX-991 ES PLUS Scientific Calculator
This slim and sleek calculator lives up to its smooth design. The Casio FX-991 ES PLUS is one of Casio’s newest calculator creations, surpassing many of their other calculators when it comes to improvement. This calculator has standard functions, including table functions, fraction calculations, and statistic functions, such as standard deviation and regression analysis. Because of its name PLUS, it also includes special features like matrix calculations, complex number calculations, along with CALC and SOLVE functions.
One of its greatest features includes the fact that it is a two-way calculator when it comes to power. It is both solar and battery-powered, using solar when in a bright area and the battery when there is no light available.
The Plus comes with light plastic keys, a natural V.P.A.M. display, and a dot matrix display. Although this calculator is a lot smaller than the Texas TI-84 as listed above, it is much less expensive and still has many practical features when it comes to math calculations and problem solving.
3. HP 35s Scientific Calculator
The HP 35s scientific calculator is one of HP’s best calculators and is great for math students, surveyors, people in the medical profession, or even engineers! It comes with many features, including keystroke programming, both single and two-variable statistics, and many different conversions, such as logarithms, cube roots, inverse functions, and exponents. It comes with 30 KB of memory and more than eight hundred different independent storage registers.
You can also choose between RPN or algebraic entry-system logic, which is not offered by any other scientific calculator that is currently on the market. If you are worried about warranty, HP offers you a one year warranty in case something would happen to your calculator.
The HP 35s is a happy medium when it comes to price, and still offers math users various features that will be appreciated when it comes to math, and even some engineering aspects.
4. Texas Instruments TI-36X
This is another option from Texas Instruments. However, this TI-36X is strictly a scientific calculator, while the TI-84 is actually a graphing calculator. Because of that, this is a much less expensive option.
If you’re in a class where you’re not allowed to have a graphing calculator, than this may be a better option for you. It has a multi-view display that shows multiple calculations at the same time on the screen. It also shows math expressions, symbols, and stacked fractions as they appear directly in the textbooks.
The TI-36X can be used from high school to college and is ideal for Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Statistics, Trigonometry, Calculus, Statistics, Physics, and more. This calculator is ideal for converting fractions, decimals, and terms including Pi into alternate representations. Additionally, it can be used for select degrees and radians, floating and fix, and number format modes.
This is an excellent basic scientific calculator that will last you for years to come.
Getting the Most Out of Your Scientific Calculator
No matter which calculator you choose, any scientific calculator will be a lifesaver to you in your math classes from high school to college. If you choose a graphing calculator, such as the Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus, then it can last you even longer and for even more classes than a basic scientific calculator.
However, certain classes won’t allow a graphing calculator, so take that into consideration before investing in one. If yours doesn’t allow them, or you just aren’t ready to spend the money on a graphing calculator, then any of our other options will be perfect for you.
Do you have a favorite scientific calculator that we didn’t mention in our list? Let us know in a comment!