|
Graphing Calculators
A graphing calculator (also known as a graphical calculator) is a special kind of scientific/engineering programmable calculator that is able to display and/or analyze mathematical function graphs. Also, graphing calculators can show several lines of text and numbers at a time. more...
 Home
Amplifiers
Audio Accessories & Cables
Cable TV
DVD Players & Recorders
Digital Video Recorders, PVR
Gadgets & Other Electronics
 Air Purifiers
Batteries & Chargers
Breathalyzers
Calculators
 Basic Calculators
Books, Manuals
Financial Calculators
 Hewlett-Packard
Other Brands
Sharp
Texas Instruments
Graphing Calculators
Casio
Hewlett-Packard
Other Brands
Texas Instruments
Other Calculators
Printing Calculators
Scientific Calculators
Hewlett-Packard
Other
Texas Instruments
Vintage Calculators
Clocks
Dictionaries & Translators
eBooks
Flashlight Key Chains
Fresnel Lenses
Home Automation
Language Filters
Laser Pointers
Laserdisc Players
Metal Detectors
Other Gadgets
Polygraphs
Radiation Detectors
RF Locators
Surveillance
Therapeutic Devices
Timers
Voltage Converters
Weather Devices
WebTV
Home Audio
Home Theater Projectors
Home Theater in a Box
Radios: CB, Ham & Shortwave
Satellite Radio
Satellite TV
Telephones & Pagers
Televisions
VCRs
Vintage Electronics
Some graphing calculators have color displays.
History
Casio introduced the graphing calculator with the fx-7000G in 1985. After Casio, Hewlett Packard followed shortly in the form of the HP-28C. This was followed by the HP-28S (1988), HP-48SX (1990), HP-48S (1991), and many other models. The current top-of-the line model, the HP 50g (2006), features a Computer Algebra System (CAS), which lets the user perform many types of symbolic computations, like derivation and integration of functions in their general algebraic forms—e.g., d/dx(y=cos(x−2)+3x²). The HP-28 and -48 range were primarily meant for the professional science/engineering markets; the HP-38/39/40 were sold in the high school/college educational market; while the HP-49 series cater to both educational (college major and university level) and professional customers.
Texas Instruments has produced models of graphing calculators since 1990, the oldest of which was the TI-81. Some of the newer calculators are just like it, only with larger memories, such as the TI-82, TI-83 series, (including the TI-83, TI-83 Plus, and TI-83 Plus Silver Edition), and the TI-84 Plus series (including the TI-84 Plus and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition). Other models, designed to be appropriate for students 10–14 years of age, are the TI-80 and TI-73 series. Other TI graphing calculators have been designed to be appropriate for calculus, namely the TI-85, TI-86, and TI-89 series. TI offers a computer algebra system on the TI-86 and -89 models and also sells versions with a QWERTY keypad.
HP and TI are the top two contenders in the graphing calculator market, however, Casio and Sharp also manufacture popular calculators.
Computer software is also available to emulate or perform the functions of a graphing calculator.
Graphing calculators in schools
Because of their large set of features and ease of use, graphing calculators are very commonly used in schools. Many vendors, especially Casio, market their graphing calculators primarily for educational use. Casio has focused its efforts at the high school/junior college user segment, most of their calculators offering relatively easy-to-use graphing features (some models incorporating a three-color display) without some of the most complex/flexible mathematical functions and programming languages found in the usually more expensive university/engineering calculators. However, an exception to this is the FX 1.0/2.0 series, of which the 2.0 models incorporate a Computer Algebra System (CAS) and a significantly improved version of Casio's BASIC-like calculator programming language. Texas Instruments is Casio's chief competitor in educational graphing calculators.
Read more at Wikipedia.org
|
|
