scientific calculator

Evolution of the scientific calculator

The scientific calculator

Although we may have first started using fingers and toes to countthings, the human race has been developing devices to assist with calculations for several hundred years. From counting devices from the beginning to the modern calculators There has been plenty that has been created in the space between.

Nowadays, professionals and students alike are equipped with scientific calculators capable of performing complex mathematical functions, as well as handling equations. They are able to save huge amounts of time compared with writing out and solving individual problems and equations.

But how did inventors move from the first abacus many thousands of years ago to the present scientific calculator?

What is a scientific calculator?

Scientific calculators, also referred as digital calculators, are electronic devices that can be used to solve various calculations that are used in math, engineering, and science.

Simpler calculators typically have four core tasks: subtracting, adding, multiplying and dividing. A few advanced electronic calculators include other functions like instant percentage calculators. Scientific calculators, on the other hand are able of solving difficult mathematical problems such as those found in statistics or probabilities.

Students are increasingly using scientific calculators for the high school level and for college education in classes such as calculus and algebra. They're also widely used in a professional capacity by architects and engineers among others.

In the present, more advanced calculators are on the market. For example, a graphing calculator includes all the functions of a scientific calculator , along with the ability to graph input data.

The history of the calculator

Early calculators

Humans first started using instruments to count at an invention known as the abacus an tool that's so old that its origins haven't been confirmed. It's about moving a set of balls or beads from one side of a row of poles another.

About the middle of 17th century the first addition machine was developed. It was able of adding and subtracting through the movement of the dials.

After that, a series of iterations on the adding machine advanced humanity toward the electronic calculators that we have today. The first was Philip Hahn's spherical hand-cranked calculator from 1778 and the first calculator that was commercially manufactured by Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar in 1820.

Electronically advanced calculators

In 1954, IBM came up with the first all-transistor calculator. The previous calculators were all based on vacuum tubes to operate However, this model employed around 3,000 transistors instead. It was a big device that was heavy and could cost you as high as $83,210.

Soon after, inventors began to produce far more compact versions of the current calculator. In 1967 the very first portable calculator was on the market. Since then, the fundamental interface of handheld calculators hasn't changed much. It was launched to the market in 1970 that weighed 45 ounces and featured ten numeral buttons from zero to nine. The display was able to display numbers up to 12-decimal place.

Pocket calculators

Through the 1970s calculators were constantly evolving. One of the first pocket calculator with an LED display was made available by BUSICOM in 1971 . It was priced at $395. Hewlett-Packard promptly followed in the year 1975 , releasing the very first hand-held calculator that could be programmable at $795.

In the year 1985, Casio had released the first graphing calculator. The company rapidly continued to refine this model. They're still one of the most popular brands of scientific calculators as we see them today.

The first scientific calculator

Of the many different versions of the modern calculator the 1968 Hewlett-Packard HP-9100A can be defined as the first calculator that was scientific in nature. It utilized transistor logic, CORDIC's algorithm for trigonometry, and was built on RPN entry.

Since then, various brands have also taken over and taken over the scientific calculator market, such as Sharp, Casio and Canon. Casio is especially associated with their popular FX series, including their Casio FX-991EX popularly used by students at school.

Modern scientific calculators can be used

Modern scientific calculators have the ability to carry out a fundamental collection of calculations and functions. Different models and makes may also include extra functions.

Scientific notation

If numbers are too big and long to be written in decimal form, scientific notation is utilized instead. A good example of this is "m x 10n."

Arithmetic with floating point floating

This type of numerical representation is typically used when dealing with very small or very massive numbers. It represents calculations and figures using an approximate formula, rather than an ordinary integer.

Trigonometry

Trigonometry involves measuring and calculating the sides and angles of triangles with respect to each other . It is usually taught as a subset of geometry in the educational system. Scientific calculators allow you to calculate and present trigonometric proportions and formulas.

Constants

Scientific calculators also include shorthand buttons for constants such as "pi" so you can effortlessly incorporate these into calculations and formulas.

Calculus

For high school students, calculus includes the study of concepts, such as functions and limits. Scientific calculators allow you to determine limits without having to use long, lengthy calculations with paper as well as sheets of paper.

Fractions

Scientific calculators often display fractions as decimal number by default, but the different functions of a scientific calculator permit you to represent things like fractions in a number variations of format.

Complex numbers

In certain mathematical equations, an imaginary number is used and denoted as "i." Scientific calculators allow calculations using complex numbers. These numbers are represented in the form of "a + bi."

Best scientific calculators

Most scientific calculator suitable for middle schoolers

Casio FX 260 Solar II Scientific Calculator is available at Amazon
This is an extremely light calculator that is easily carried around or put in a locker. The durable case slide over to protect the calculator screen from damage. It's also affordable and makes it simpler to replace in case it's stolen or damaged.

A scientific calculator that is ideal for college and high school

Texas Instruments TI-36X Pro Scientific Calculator is available from Amazon
This calculator is appropriate for all levels of mathematics at high school and college level which includes advanced algebra, calculus, geometry and statistics. It's capable of handling complex equations . It displays four lines of information.

The most accurate scientific calculator for professionals.

HP 35S Programmable Scientific Calculator: Available at Amazon
Whatever your job is in the medical, scientific or engineering field it is as robust as they come. It can be used with RPN in addition to algebraic input. Additionally, it comes with a complete library of unit conversions, among many other features.

Lauren Farrell is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a review of products company with a singular mission to simplify your shopping decisions, and help you save your time and dollars.

BestReviews has spent thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products in order to offer the best products for the majority of people. BestReviews together with the newspapers it partners could make a profit if you buy a product using one of our link.


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