Graphing calculator

A graphing calculator is a special kind of scientific/engineering calculator that is able to draw and/or analyze mathematical function graphs on its display. In addition, graphing calculators can show several lines of text and numbers at a time. Some graphing calculators have color displays.

Hewlett Packard introduced graphing calculators in 1987, in the form of the HP-28C. This was followed by the HP-28S (1988), HP-48SX (1990), HP-48S (1991), HP-48G/GX (1994), HP-38G (1995), HP-39G (199x), HP-40G (199x), HP-49G (1999), and the HP-49G+ and HP-48GII (2003).

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, these are the TI-82, TI-83, TI-83 Plus, and TI-84 Plus. Other models, designed to be appropriate for students 10–14 years of age, are the TI-80, TI-73, and TI-73 Explorer. Others are forms that have been modified to be appropriate for calculus, these are the TI-85, TI-86, TI-89, and TI-89 Titanium (the latter two also featuring a CAS, like the HP-49 models). Still, others are forms with a computer keyboard, including the TI-92, TI-92 Plus, and Voyage 200.

There are also graphing calculators available from Casio and Sharp Corporation. Casio has focused its efforts at the high school/junior college user segment, offering relatively easy-to-use graphing features without extremely complex and flexible mathematical functions and programming.

Graphing Calculator is the name of a computer software tool capable of performing many graphing calculator functions. It can graph inequalities and vector fields, as well as functions in two, three, or four dimensions. It supports several different coordinate systems, and can solve equations. It is available for Mac OS (under the name NuCalc) and Microsoft Windows.

See also