What Graphing Calculator Should I Get? Back to School Graphing Calculator Guide 2022

KermMartian
14 Aug 202210:20

TLDRIn this 2022 guide, Dr. Christopher Mitchell reviews top graphing calculators for school, including the TI-84 Plus CE, two versions of TI's Inspire, Casio's Prism, and HP's Prime. He highlights the TI-84 Plus CE as a versatile choice for students from 7th grade through college, while the TI Inspire with CAS offers symbolic math capabilities. The HP Prime stands out for its polished design and advanced features, ideal for professionals and college students. Mitchell also discusses the Casio Prism, a solid option with a color screen and programmable features, but less common in US classrooms.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Dr. Christopher Mitchell, an experienced graphing calculator user and author, provides guidance on choosing a graphing calculator for school.
  • 📊 The TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for students from 7th grade through college due to its familiarity and wide usage in education.
  • 💡 The TI-84 Plus CE offers a color screen and additional features for statistics and graphing, but maintains compatibility with older models.
  • 💰 The TI-84 Plus CE is priced around $120-125 and is available in various colors, making it a popular choice for back-to-school shopping.
  • 🚫 The TI Inspire series, especially the CAS version, offers advanced symbolic math capabilities but is not allowed on standardized tests like the SAT.
  • 📱 The HP Prime stands out for its polished design, touchscreen, and powerful math functions, making it ideal for professionals and advanced students.
  • 🔋 The Casio Prizm (FX-CG50) is a solid alternative, featuring a color screen, programmability, and AAA battery usage for easy replacement.
  • 📈 For most students, the TI-84 Plus CE is the best choice due to its widespread use, teacher familiarity, and extensive support materials.
  • 🛠️ The TI-84 Plus CE Python Edition includes Python programming, offering additional capabilities for those interested in programming.
  • 🏫 If your classroom or teacher specifies a preference for a particular calculator, it's wise to choose that model for ease of use and compatibility.

Q & A

  • Who is the presenter in the video about graphing calculators?

    -The presenter is Dr. Christopher Mitchell, who has been using and programming graphing calculators for 25 years and is the co-founder of a volunteer group called Chemitech.

  • What are the key features that Dr. Mitchell highlights about the graphing calculators discussed?

    -The key features highlighted include a color screen, rechargeable batteries (except for the Casio Prism), tactile buttons, and a USB port for file transfer and charging (except for the Casio Prism).

  • Which graphing calculator is recommended for students from 7th grade through college?

    -The TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for students from 7th grade through college due to its popularity and compatibility with standardized tests.

  • What is the approximate price range for the TI-84 Plus CE calculator?

    -The TI-84 Plus CE calculator generally costs around $120 to $125.

  • What is the difference between the TI-Inspire CX and the TI-Inspire CX CAS?

    -The main difference is that the TI-Inspire CX CAS has a Computer Algebra System (CAS), which allows for symbolic math, but it cannot be used on standardized tests like the SAT.

  • Why might the HP Prime be the best choice for professionals?

    -The HP Prime is the most polished calculator with a touchscreen, bright screen, and powerful math functionality, making it suitable for professionals like engineers and architects.

  • What is unique about the Casio Prism's battery system compared to other calculators?

    -The Casio Prism uses AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable battery, allowing for quick battery swaps if the power runs out during a test or class.

  • Which calculator is Dr. Mitchell's top recommendation for most students?

    -Dr. Mitchell recommends the TI-84 Plus CE for most students as it is suitable for a wide range of math levels and is familiar to teachers and standardized test proctors.

  • What is the significance of the TI-84 Plus CE Python Edition mentioned in the video?

    -The TI-84 Plus CE Python Edition includes Python as a built-in language, in addition to the traditional TI Basic language, offering more programming options.

  • Why might the Casio Prism be a good alternative to the TI-84 Plus CE?

    -The Casio Prism could be a good alternative due to its compatibility with standardized tests and its user community, despite having different keystroke functions compared to TI calculators.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Graphing Calculators for School

Dr. Christopher Mitchell, an experienced user and programmer of graphing calculators, introduces a video discussing the best calculators for school use in 2022. He covers options from Texas Instruments, Casio, and Hewlett-Packard, focusing on the TI-84 Plus CE, two versions of the TI Inspire, the Casio Prizm, and the HP Prime. Dr. Mitchell highlights common features like color screens, rechargeable batteries, and USB ports. He emphasizes the suitability of these calculators for different math levels and their compatibility with standardized tests like the SAT. The TI-84 Plus CE is highlighted as a popular choice for its familiarity, high-resolution color screen, and compatibility with various math tasks from middle school through college.

05:02

💼 Advanced Calculators and Their Applications

The TI Inspire is presented as a more advanced calculator than the TI-84 Plus CE, with a larger size, more keys, and two varieties: the CX2 and the CX2 CAS. The latter includes a Computer Algebra System for symbolic math, which is not allowed in some math classes or on the SAT. The TI Inspire's interface differs from others, featuring a touchpad and document-based math input, which may be less user-friendly. The HP Prime stands out as the most polished calculator with a touchscreen, bright screen, and powerful math capabilities, making it ideal for professionals and college students. The Casio Prizm, while less common in US classrooms, offers a color screen, programmability, and the unique advantage of AAA battery use. The paragraph concludes with a recommendation: the TI-84 Plus CE for general school use, the HP Prime for advanced or professional use, and the TI-84 Plus CE or Casio Prizm for those interested in calculator hacking.

10:04

🛠️ Customization and Practicality in Calculator Choice

This paragraph emphasizes the practicality and customization options in choosing a calculator. It suggests that for those who want to hack or customize their calculator, the TI-84 Plus CE is the best option, with the Casio Prizm being a close alternative. The paragraph reinforces the idea that the choice of calculator should be based on individual needs, whether it's for educational purposes, professional use, or personal customization.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Graphing Calculator

A graphing calculator is an electronic device used to perform various mathematical operations, including graphing functions, solving equations, and performing statistical analysis. In the context of the video, Dr. Christopher Mitchell discusses various graphing calculator models suitable for school use, emphasizing their importance for students from middle school through college.

💡Texas Instruments (TI)

Texas Instruments, commonly referred to as TI, is a technology company that manufactures a range of graphing calculators. In the video, Dr. Mitchell reviews the TI-84 Plus CE and the TI Inspire series, highlighting their features and suitability for different educational levels and needs.

💡Casio

Casio is a Japanese company known for its electronic devices, including graphing calculators. The Casio Prizm, also known as the fx-CG50, is mentioned in the video as a solid option for students, with a color screen and the ability to perform various mathematical functions.

💡Hewlett-Packard (HP)

Hewlett-Packard, or HP, is a multinational technology company that produces a variety of products, including graphing calculators. The HP Prime is discussed in the video as a polished and advanced calculator with a touchscreen and powerful mathematical capabilities.

💡Rechargeable Battery

A rechargeable battery is a type of battery that can be charged and discharged multiple times, unlike single-use batteries. In the video, Dr. Mitchell notes that most calculators have rechargeable batteries, which can be charged using a USB port, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for powering the devices.

💡USB Port

A USB port is a type of connector that allows for the transfer of data or the charging of devices. In the context of the video, Dr. Mitchell mentions that all calculators discussed, except for the Casio Prizm, have USB ports for file transfer and, in the case of calculators with rechargeable batteries, for charging as well.

💡TI-84 Plus CE

The TI-84 Plus CE is a graphing calculator from Texas Instruments, praised in the video for its popularity and versatility. It is suitable for students from 7th grade through college and is known for its high-resolution color screen and compatibility with standardized tests like the SAT.

💡Computer Algebra System (CAS)

A Computer Algebra System is a software system that allows for symbolic mathematics, including equation solving and simplification. In the video, Dr. Mitchell explains that calculators with a CAS, like the TI Inspire CX CAS, can perform advanced mathematical operations but are not allowed on certain standardized tests.

💡Standardized Tests

Standardized tests are exams administered and scored in a consistent manner to measure a student's knowledge or abilities. The video discusses how certain graphing calculators, like the TI-84 Plus CE, are allowed on tests like the SAT, while others with specific features, such as a CAS, are not permitted.

💡TI Inspire

The TI Inspire is a series of graphing calculators from Texas Instruments that offer advanced features compared to the TI-84 Plus CE. The video highlights two versions: the TI Inspire CX and the TI Inspire CX CAS. Dr. Mitchell notes that while the Inspire is more advanced, it may not be the best choice for all students, especially those taking standardized tests.

💡Programming

Programming refers to the process of writing instructions for a computer to follow. In the context of the video, Dr. Mitchell mentions that some graphing calculators, like the TI-84 Plus CE and the Casio Prizm, can be programmed, allowing for customized functions and greater flexibility in solving problems.

Highlights

Dr. Christopher Mitchell, with 25 years of experience, discusses the best graphing calculators for school in 2022.

Options include Texas Instruments, Casio, and Hewlett-Packard calculators.

The TI-84 Plus CE is a popular choice for students from 7th grade through college.

The TI-84 Plus CE offers a higher resolution color screen and is well-known for its math, statistics, and graphing capabilities.

The TI Inspire is a more advanced calculator with a different interface and a touchpad.

The TI Inspire CX CAS has a Computer Algebra System for symbolic math but is not allowed on standardized tests.

The HP Prime is a polished calculator with a touchscreen and is suitable for professionals and advanced math.

The Casio Prizm is a solid option that can be used on standardized tests and is popular for its AAA battery use.

The TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for most people needing a graphing calculator for school math.

The HP Prime is the best choice for those requiring a professional calculator with symbolic math capabilities.

The TI Inspire is suitable for those familiar with Texas Instruments calculators and needing advanced math features.

The Casio Prizm is a close alternative to the TI-84 Plus CE, especially for those who prefer replaceable batteries.

All calculators discussed have color screens, tactile buttons, and USB ports for file transfer.

The TI-84 Plus CE is priced around $120-125, making it a cost-effective choice for students.

The HP Prime, with its advanced features, is priced at approximately $150.

The Casio Prizm is similarly priced to the TI-84 Plus CE, around $120.

For those looking for a calculator that can last through various levels of education, the TI-84 Plus CE is a solid investment.

The HP Prime stands out for its sleek design, bright screen, and powerful 3D graphing capabilities.

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