Graphing Calculators

A graphing calculator (also known as a graphic calculator or graphical calculator) typically refers to a class of handheld calculators that are capable of plotting graphs, solving simultaneous equations, and performing numerous other tasks with variables. more...

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Most popular graphing calculators are also programmable, allowing the user to create customized programs, typically for scientific/engineering and education applications. Due to their large displays intended for graphing, they can also accommodate several lines of text and calculations at a time. Some graphing calculators also have color displays, and others may even include 3D graphing. Mac OS X includes an advanced software graphic calculator known as Grapher.

Since graphing calculators are readily user-programmable, such calculators are also widely used for gaming purposes, with a sizeable body of user-created game software on most popular platforms.

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) capable of manipulating symbolic expressions and analytic solving. 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 and professional customers of all levels. The HP series of graphing calculators is best known for their Reverse Polish Notation interface, although the HP-49 introduced a standard expression entry interface as well.

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 amounts of memory, 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, TI-89 series, and TI-92 series, (including the TI-92, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200). TI offers a computer algebra system on the TI-89 and TI-92 series models with the TI-92 series having a QWERTY keypad. TI calculators are targeted specifically to the educational market, but are also widely available to the general public.

HP and TI are the most popular makes, followed by Casio in third place. Graphing calculators are also manufactured by Sharp but they do not have the online communities and collections of programs like the other brands.

Read more at Wikipedia.org