What Graphing Calculator Should I Get? Back to School Graphing Calculator Guide 2022
TLDRIn this guide, Dr. Christopher Mitchell evaluates the best graphing calculators for school in 2022. He reviews the TI-84 Plus CE, two versions of TI's Inspire, Casio's Prism, and HP's Prime. Mitchell highlights key features like screen resolution, battery type, and compatibility with standardized tests. The TI-84 Plus CE emerges as the top choice for its versatility and familiarity, while the HP Prime stands out for advanced users due to its touchscreen and powerful capabilities.
Takeaways
- 📚 Dr. Christopher Mitchell, with 25 years of experience, discusses various graphing calculators suitable for school use in 2022.
- 🔢 The TI-84 Plus CE is a popular choice for students from 7th grade to college, known for its high-resolution color screen and familiar interface.
- 💰 The TI-84 Plus CE typically costs around $120-125 and is available in various colors, although some may be harder to find due to supply chain issues.
- 📈 The TI Inspire is more advanced than the TI-84 Plus CE, with two versions: the CX2 and the CX2 CAS, the latter offering symbolic math but not allowed on standardized tests.
- 💼 The TI Inspire has a different interface with a touchpad and requires navigating through menus, which might be less user-friendly for some.
- 💻 The HP Prime stands out for its polished design, bright touchscreen, and powerful math capabilities, making it ideal for professionals and advanced college students.
- 🚫 The HP Prime, due to its touchscreen and CAS system, cannot be used on standardized tests like the SAT.
- 💡 The Casio Prizm (FX-CG50) is less common in US classrooms but offers a color screen and is known for using AAA batteries for easy replacement.
- 🔑 The key to choosing a calculator is considering the level of math needed, familiarity with the device for classroom use, and whether it's allowed on standardized tests.
- 🏆 For most students, the TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for its versatility in math, statistics, graphing, and programming, and its widespread use in education.
- 🛠️ For those needing to perform advanced math or symbolic manipulation, the TI Inspire CX2 CAS and HP Prime are options, with the latter being preferred for its polish and capabilities.
Q & A
Who is the speaker in the video and what is their area of expertise?
-The speaker 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 common features of the graphing calculators discussed in the video?
-The common features include a phone-like shape, tactile buttons, color screens, rechargeable batteries (except for the Casio Prism), and a USB port for file transfer and charging.
Why is the TI-84 Plus CE a popular choice among students?
-The TI-84 Plus CE is popular due to its familiarity to students, teachers, and textbooks, its high-resolution color screen, and its capability to perform standard math, statistics, graphing, and programming.
What is the price range for the TI-84 Plus CE calculator?
-The TI-84 Plus CE generally costs around 120 to 125 US dollars, with potential deals available during back-to-school seasons.
What is the difference between the TI-Inspire CX and the TI-Inspire CX CAS?
-The TI-Inspire CX CAS has a Computer Algebra System (CAS) which allows for symbolic math, but it is not allowed on standardized tests like the SAT, unlike the TI-Inspire CX.
Why might the HP Prime be preferred by professionals or college students doing advanced math?
-The HP Prime is preferred for its polished design, touch screen, fast and powerful math capabilities, and 3D graphing, making it suitable for professionals and advanced college math.
How does the Casio Prism differ from other calculators in terms of battery usage?
-The Casio Prism uses AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable battery, allowing for quick battery swaps if needed, which can be an advantage during tests or class.
What is the price range for the Casio Prism calculator?
-The Casio Prism is priced similarly to the TI-84 Plus CE, around 120 US dollars.
Which calculator is recommended for most students from elementary school to early college?
-The TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for most students due to its versatility, familiarity, and adequacy for math, statistics, graphing, and some programming.
What are the considerations when choosing between the TI-Inspire CX2 CAS and the HP Prime for advanced math?
-The choice depends on the user's need for a polished interface, touch screen, and symbolic math capabilities. The HP Prime is preferred for its polish and capabilities, but the TI-Inspire CX2 CAS should be chosen if the classroom is familiar with TI calculators.
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, offering more programming options for users.
Outlines
📚 Graphing Calculators for School: An Overview
Dr. Christopher Mitchell introduces the topic of choosing the right graphing calculator for school in 2022. With 25 years of experience, he co-founded Chemitech and authored books on the subject. The video covers options from Texas Instruments, Casio, and Hewlett-Packard, including the TI-84 Plus CE, TI's Inspire series, Casio Prism, and HP Prime. Key features highlighted are the calculators' shapes, tactile buttons, color screens, rechargeable batteries, and USB ports. The TI-84 Plus CE is noted for its popularity, compatibility with standardized tests, and its price range of $120-125. The video also addresses the usability and capabilities of each calculator, emphasizing the importance of choosing one that suits different math requirements and testing regulations.
🔢 Advanced Calculators: Features and Considerations
This paragraph delves into the specifics of the TI Inspire and HP Prime calculators, contrasting them with the TI-84 Plus CE. The TI Inspire is more advanced but may not be suitable for all classroom settings or standardized tests due to its Computer Algebra System (CAS). It has a unique interface with a touchpad and operates through documents, which could be less user-friendly for some. The HP Prime stands out for its polished design, touchscreen, and powerful math capabilities, making it ideal for professionals and advanced college students. However, its CAS feature restricts its use on standardized tests. The Casio Prism, while less common in US classrooms, offers a solid alternative with a color screen and programmability, using AAA batteries for easy replacement. The paragraph concludes with price points for the TI Inspire ($115-120), HP Prime ($150), and Casio Prism (~$120), and emphasizes the TI-84 Plus CE as the most teacher- and test-proctor-familiar option.
🏆 Choosing the Best Calculator for Your Needs
The final paragraph provides a conclusive guide on selecting the optimal calculator based on individual needs. The TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for students from elementary to early college levels due to its versatility, familiarity, and ample reference materials. For those requiring symbolic manipulation, the TI Inspire CX2 CAS and HP Prime are considered, with a preference for the HP Prime's polished interface and capabilities. The paragraph also touches on the TI-84 Plus CE's hackability and the Casio Prism as a close alternative. The summary underscores the importance of considering the calculator's compatibility with classroom requirements and standardized tests, ultimately advocating for the TI-84 Plus CE as a reliable, all-around choice for most students.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Graphing Calculator
💡TI-84 Plus CE
💡TI Inspire
💡Casio Prizm
💡HP Prime
💡Rechargeable Battery
💡Standardized Tests
💡Computer Algebra System (CAS)
💡Tactile Buttons
💡USB Port
💡Programming
Highlights
Dr. Christopher Mitchell, with 25 years of experience, discusses various graphing calculators suitable for school in 2022.
Options from Texas Instruments, Casio, and Hewlett-Packard are presented, including the TI-84 Plus CE, TI Inspire, Casio Prizm, and HP Prime.
All calculators have color screens, rechargeable batteries (except Casio Prizm), and USB ports for file transfer.
The TI-84 Plus CE is a popular choice for students from 7th grade to college, known for its high-resolution color screen and ease of use.
The TI-84 Plus CE is priced around $120-125 and is available in various colors.
The TI Inspire is more advanced but may not be suitable for standardized tests due to its Computer Algebra System (CAS).
The HP Prime stands out for its polished design, bright touchscreen, and powerful 3D graphing capabilities.
The HP Prime is recommended for professionals and advanced math students, priced at approximately $150.
The Casio Prizm, while less common in US classrooms, offers a unique feature of using AAA batteries for quick replacement.
The Casio Prizm is priced similarly to the TI-84 Plus CE, around $120, and is popular for its user community support.
The TI-84 Plus CE is recommended for most students due to its familiarity to teachers and standardized test proctors.
For those needing symbolic manipulation, the TI Inspire CX2 CAS and HP Prime are suitable options.
The HP Prime is preferred for its polished interface and capabilities, despite the TI Inspire being familiar in some classrooms.
The TI-84 Plus CE Python Edition offers built-in Python language in addition to the traditional TI Basic.
The video concludes that the TI-84 Plus CE is ideal for school use from elementary to early college levels.
For professional use or advanced college math, the HP Prime is the recommended choice.
The Casio Prizm is a close runner-up to the TI-84 Plus CE for those interested in hacking calculators.