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No approval for AP/IB/SAT/ACT, as far as I can see. No RPN. Every modern graphing calculator needs a mode (doesn't have to be the default) with RPN and a visi
by harshreality 7mo ago
No approval for AP/IB/SAT/ACT, as far as I can see.
No RPN. Every modern graphing calculator needs a mode (doesn't have to be the default) with RPN and a visible (4+ entry) stack. Once people actually learn how to use that for rapid, efficient calculations, they won't go back, but they never learn because all the major calculators don't even offer it as an alternate mode. That's the killer app for "graphing" calculators, because they can show multiple stack entries.
RPN may not be useful for math classes, which tend not to have as many problems involving many sequential calculations, but it's extremely valuable for science and engineering.
- jasomill 7mo agoFunny you mention that. I had to get special permission to use my HP-15C on a "calculators allowed" exam in a first-year "calculus for non majors" course, and had to show the instructor how to reset its memory. Which I found amusing, because the list of approved calulators included several graphing calculator models with computer algebra systems in ROM sufficient to produce correct answers to every problem on the exam, and they're worried about what I might have stored in the memory of a (then) 15-year old keystroke programmable calculator with a single line, ten digit, seven segment numeric display.
- agiacalone 7mo agoSeriously, this. More calculators need RPN. It’s the reason I keep my HP 50G in as pristine condition as possible. If this had RPN, I’d likely purchase one. Without, it’s a pass.
- pjmlp 7mo agoDepends on the country, not every country has calculator mafia telling the students what brands are allowed. HP were cool, yet Casio FX tablets with plain BASIC dominated engineering in Portugal, FX-850P were the models we were after.